Pinecrest Day Use Area
Stanislaus National Forest — lakeside
Location: Pinecrest, CA, CA
Price: From $60 per night
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (14 reviews)
Season: May through October
Pinecrest Lake is located 40 minutes east of Sonora, California, and is within a 3-hour drive from major metropolitan areas including San Francisco, Sacramento and many valley cities. The lake is located at 5,600 feet elevation and provides cool summer relief, spectacular scenery, and lake shore beaches for relaxing, swimming and picnics.The day use area is surrounded by mixed conifer, providing shade during warm summer days. The group picnic sites are located within sight of the lake offering e
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/pinecrest-day-use-area to be notified when sites open up.
Pinecrest Lake offers cool summer relief at 5,600 feet elevation with spectacular scenery and popular recreation including swimming, hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Google reviewers praise the clean facilities, scenic loop trail, and free amenities including parking, fishing, bathrooms, and picnic tables.
Wildlife alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake present in area—use caution on trails. Also observed: River Otter, Western Gray Squirrel, Pileated Woodpecker, Sierra Garter Snake, California Alligator Lizard.
Insider tips for Pinecrest Day Use Area: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 3 tent sites Only 3 sites available total, so arrive with flexibility on dates Loop around lake is scenic and takes approximately 2 hours to complete
Skip Pinecrest Day Use Area if: Need full hookups—no hookups available at sites. Traveling November-April—campground operates seasonally May through October only. Seeking solitude—reviewers note this is a popular destination.
Best time to visit Pinecrest Day Use Area: May-October — Official operating season for campground. Summer months — Google reviews highlight summer as peak season for swimming and recreation at the lake.
Nearby campgrounds: Pinecrest (PINECREST, CA), Pioneer Trail (Pinecrest, CA), Cherry Valley (Groveland, CA), New Spicer Meadows (CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Pinecrest Day Use Area
Cell signal at Pinecrest Day Use Area (Pinecrest, CA): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Pinecrest Lake is located 40 minutes east of Sonora, California, and is within a 3-hour drive from major metropolitan areas including San Francisco, Sacramento and many valley cities. The lake is located at 5,600 feet elevation and provides cool summer relief, spectacular scenery, and lake shore beaches for relaxing, swimming and picnics.The day use area is surrounded by mixed conifer, providing shade during warm summer days. The group picnic sites are located within sight of the lake offering easy access to the lake, beach and hiking trails.The Pinecrest National Recreation Trail traverses Pinecrest Lake for an easy four mile hike.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with only 3 tent sites
Only 3 sites available total, so arrive with flexibility on dates
Loop around lake is scenic and takes approximately 2 hours to complete
Official operating season for campground
Google reviews highlight summer as peak season for swimming and recreation at the lake
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Pinecrest Day Use area is located approximately 35 miles east of Sonora, CA on Highway 108. The day use area is located on Pinecrest Lake Road, 1 mile from the intersection with Highway 108.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Stanislaus National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Stanislaus National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Pinecrest Day Use Area cost per night?+
What season is Pinecrest Day Use Area open?+
Does Pinecrest Day Use Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Pinecrest Day Use Area?+
How do I make reservations at Pinecrest Day Use Area?+
What is the cell service like at Pinecrest Day Use Area?+
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●Data sources on this page
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