Pinecrest
Pinecrest features a large campground by Pinecrest Lake, just 30 miles east of Sonora, at an elevation of 5600 feet. The area includes a day-use beach and a marina, a small shopping center and recreation cabins. The campground caters to all ages and is within walking distance of the lake, an amphitheater, visitor center, swimming beach and spectacular hiking trails. Pets are welcome, but must be compliant with Tuolumne County leash laws.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 196 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
196 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A001 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| A002 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | |
| A003 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | |
| A004 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | |
| A005 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | |
| A006 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | |
| A007 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | |
| A008 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | |
| A009 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | |
| A010 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 48 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Amenities for each site includes a paved parking pad, picnic table and campfire ring. Drinking water is handy and restrooms have flush toilets, sinks and a utility sink. No RV hookups area available and no showers. At the entrance of the campground is a kiosk to help with additional questions and where campground reservation check in will happne. Ice and fire wood is for sale here.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | April to October |
| Forest | Stanislaus National Forest |
| Fees | Dodge Ridge Corporation operates Pinecrest Campground and charges the following fees: $40.00 for a single-family site. The Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes are honored and provide a 50 percent discount on camping fees in the campground. |
| Rules | Camp in designated sites only. The number of people allowed in a single campsite is six. The maximum length of stay in any campground is 14 days. Please leave the area in as good (or better) condition than you found it. Help ensure your favorite area remains open. Maximum Length RV/Trailer: 40ft |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Sonora, take Highway 108 east for 30 miles, take the Pinecrest exit onto Pinecrest Lake Road and continue to the campground.
| Nearest town | Pinecrest, California |
| Coordinates | 38.1908° N, 119.9972° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
48 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bear Valley Adventure Company ↗ | 18.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Pinecrest Campground Overview
Worth a stop
Located in the nearby area are several activities. There are ample hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, mountain bike riding, and water activities. Pinecrest lake is a boating and swimming recreation area with restaurants, stores, boat rentals, and an outdoor movie theater. Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort is a ski area in the winter and in the summer is a basecamp for mountain biking, hiking, and a great indoor/outdoor BBQ. Aspen Meadow Pack Station is three miles from Pinecrest Lake and offers horseback rides and trail head for hiking. Kennedy Meadows is 30 miles east of Pinecrest and offers great river access for fishing, horse bike rides, hiking, and restaurants. Sonora Pass, a scenic winding highway that has guided people across the Sierra Nevada since 1852, is located nearby.
- 0.3 miPinecrest Day Use ↗Day use
- 1.7 mi
- 1.9 mi
- 3.4 miBeardsley Day Use ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miPinecrest Lake N.R.T ↗3.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 0.4 miPioneer0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miTrail of the Survivors I.t0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miShadow of the Miwok Interperat0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miPinecrest to Strawberry0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miPinecrest Peak/Catfish Lake4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.7 miCrabtree Cross-Country Ski Trailhead ↗Stanislaus National Forest · Season December to April
- 1.9 miGooseberry Cross-Country Ski Trailhead ↗Stanislaus National Forest · Season December
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Stanislaus National Forest.
- inStanislaus National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,090,354 acres
- 5.3 miEmigrant Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 112,723 acres
- 14.1 miCarson-Iceberg Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 158,147 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Stanislaus Branch, California Forest and Range Experiment StationHistoric district · Strawberry · 1.5 mi
- Leighton EncampmentSite · Pinecrest · 12.7 mi
- Niagara CampHistoric district · Tuolumne · 12.8 mi
Natural features
Many campsites are shaded by trees and sit near the southwest side of the 300-acre Pinecrest Lake in Stanislaus National Forest. In this beautiful mountain landscape, wildlife viewing opportunities include marmots, squirrels, coyotes and deer. Stanislaus National Forest is situated in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains, between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. The area boasts gorgeous views of snow-capped mountain peaks and California's Great Central Valley.
Recreation
The Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail takes hikers on an easy 4-mile stroll around Pinecrest Lake. Rainbow trout is a common catch in the lake and swimming is enjoyed at the sandy beach. Educational programs are also a highlight of the recreation area. Bike rentals are on hand so campers can bike around the area.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Pinecrest?
Sites at Pinecrest are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Pinecrest?
Dodge Ridge Corporation operates Pinecrest Campground and charges the following fees: $40.00 for a single-family site. The Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes are honored and provide a 50 percent discount on camping fees in the campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Pinecrest?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Pinecrest open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to October.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Pinecrest have?
196 sites, including 196 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Pinecrest?
The longest site here provides 48 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Pinecrest?
Drinking water is handy and restrooms have flush toilets, sinks and a utility sink.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Pinecrest?
Yes, pets are allowed at Pinecrest. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Pinecrest?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Camp in designated sites only.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Pinecrest?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Pinecrest?
The Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail takes hikers on an easy 4-mile stroll around Pinecrest Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Pinecrest?
Pinecrest, California. Located in the nearby area are several activities.
Source: Getting there