Pinecrest
Pinecrest is a town in Tuolumne County in the Sierra Nevada region of California.
Understand
Pinecrest is a resort town in the Stanislaus National Forest. It has a mountain lake, Pinecrest Lake, that is popular for swimming, fishing, boating, and sunbathing. The beach can accommodate many people; however, a large part of the beach is covered by pine needles and rocks, so coming early in the season/day is recommended. Do not leave equipment on the beach to reserve a spot. Campgrounds and motel rooms are available if reserved in advance. (Cabin owners are allowed only 2 weeks of renting time a year, so the chances of getting one is practically 0%.)
The lakes, streams, and rivers in the area were originally part of an elaborate wooden flume and ditch system built during the Gold Rush to provide water for washing gold in placer mining.
Pinecrest Lake was originally known as Strawberry Lake. The dam that forms the lake is known as Strawberry Dam.
Pinecrest and nearby Cold Springs and Strawberry are a small cluster of resort towns at roughly the 5,000-foot elevation level along Highway 108.
People were sold plots to build cabins and tent platforms, beginning in the 1900s. Many cabins you see as you enter Pinecrest started off as small tent platforms, and have since grown into multi roomed fully serviced homes. Modifications to these cabins are highly restricted, and in many cases, impossible due to forest preservation and wanting to preserve the natural beauty. Due to not wanting Pinecrest to become a source of income for cabin owners, the U.S. Forest Service restricts he amount of time you can rent your cabin for profit to 2 weeks per year. Many cabin owners have had the same renters since the cabin was first built, so finding open rentals in Pinecrest is very rare. Be respectful to these cabins and their owners, as many have been passed down through generations.
Get in
By car
Pinecrest is reached by traveling on Highway 108 from the Central Valley of California (e.g., Modesto) into Tuolumne County and past the foothills city of Sonora into the forest. Pinecrest is about 30 miles northeast of Sonora and 10 miles northeast of Mi-Wuk Village.
Except in winter, when Highway 108 over Sonora Pass is closed, Pinecrest can be reached from the eastern high desert by driving west from Highway 395 on Highway 108 over Sonora Pass.
From Highway 108, turn (right if heading east on 108) onto Pinecrest Lake Road and go about two miles to the lake and resort itself.
Get around
On foot
The Pinecrest area, once you get to the lake and resort area, is pedestrian oriented. Walk or ride a bicycle (Bring one or rent one near the general store, as well as grab a simple map of Pinecrest). It generally requires a car to go to nearby areas such as Cold Springs, Strawberry, or Dodge Ridge, although some use a bicycle.
By car
It is not recommended that you use a car to get around in Pinecrest, as the beauty and smells of Pinecrest are best experienced while outside a vehicle, and constant stops will need to be made due to the amount of people walking, but if you choose, which you should not, be warned, you cannot buy gas in Pinecrest.
See
Buildings
See the Pinecrest Gallery, 421 Pinecrest Lake Rd, ☏ +1 209 965-3800. Saturdays & Sundays from 12 to 4 PM or by appointment on other days.. Small art gallery. Wide range of size, style and price. near the general store, Pinecrest Library, 421 Pinecrest Lake Rd, ☏ +1 209 965-4225. 9:30 AM-8:00 PM mon-thrs, closes 6 PM fri-sat, closed sunday.. A take-a-book-leave-a-book library in the same building as the Pinecrest Gallery.
Terrain
See Pinecrest Lake, the trees, the mountains behind the lake. Take a look around and see if you can spot remnants of ancient Me-Wuk grinding stones.
Animals
See many squirrels, the occasional raccoon, and the very occasional black bear. (The bears are around, but shy.)
Do
In summer
- Fish for trout in the lake, either from the bank or a boat. The fish are restocked weekly and exact schedules can be found online. They are restocked at the boat launching station, however you can be fined for fishing there. Please do not.
- Rent a kayak, a party boat, a paddle boat, or a motorboat.
- Hike around the lake and see Strawberry Dam. (Plan for 4+ hours if you are with kids or are going slow. If you have done it before and are by yourself or with a one other person, you can probably do it in 1 hour and 30 minutes.)
- Sunbathe, socialize, or play on the beach (Sometimes there will be a food truck there. The fries there are known to be some of the best in the world)
In winter
Go skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing in nearby Dodge Ride Ski Area, or the Leland Meadows Snowplay Area.
When you have the time
Walk down to the general store (which is always stocked with candy and cold drinks), and you can stop by the library on your way.
Buy
Pinecrest General Store, 401 Pinecrest Lake Rd, ☏ (209) 965-3661. 7:00am-10:00pm. Buy food, wine, other drinks, instant meals, camping equipment, toys, etc.
- Sports shop. Winter clothing, snow gear such as sleds and toboggans, fishing tackle, rent skis, snowboards, boots, pocket knifes (must be 18+ to purchase) and the like.
Eat
* Steam Donkey Cafe. Cafe across from the general store.
espresso at a nearby stand, at the snack bar near the beach and marina.
- Dodge Ridge.
During winter, at the food court.
- Strawberry Inn, Strawberry (at the junction of Highway 108 and the Stanislaus River).
- Mexican restaurant, Cold Springs.
- Mia's, Cold Springs. Brick oven pizza and specialties.
Drink
In Pinecrest
Beverages can be purchased at The Serene Bean, Steam Donkey, general store, and snack shack at the beach.
In Strawberry
Strawberry general store.
Sleep
In Strawberry
Assorted rental cabins or the Strawberry Inn.
In Pinecrest
Campsites are also available in Pinecrest and cabins will rarely go up up for rental in Pinecrest itself. Motel rooms are available, however get sold out months before. Reservations are necessary.
Go next
- In summer, continue on Highway 108 to Dardenelle, Kennedy Meadow, and Sonora Pass.
- Yosemite National Park is about an hour away.
- Visit the Columbia historic town. (It is a drive but very worth it)
| Routes through Pinecrest |
| Modesto ← Mi-Wuk Village ← | W  E |
→ Jct N  S → END |