I have traveled to many lakes with my friends over the past several years, having a fantastic time, until the Pinecrest Lake trip. Our traveling group is in unanimous agreement not to come back. The parking was inadequate, and I drove around for twenty minutes until I was lucky enough to be the car in the right position to get a spot from people who were leaving. While my group was making their way to the marina, we met a frustrated lady who had to wait over half an hour in line and for her number to be called just to get one soda at the snack stand. Thank goodness we brought our own food and beverages and I encourage you to do so as well. The party boat rental was pricier then what we have paid at other lakes. It doesn't come with an anchor or way to tie off other than two dock clips. They will warn you ahead that you need to bring equipment that has always been standard with our previous rentals but the price balance compared to other lakes isn't in the favor of Pinecrest. We discussed with the dock attendant that we had previously piloted party boats but never came to Pinecrest Lake before. He wished us a good time with no location specific instructions and off we went. We spent the next 1 1/2 hour trying to find a place we could securely park. We rode up to an unmarked dock. A woman let us know it was private and we couldn't park there. We told her we were sorry, would move and only went there because it was unmarked. We noticed the other docks had been clearly marked as private so it's an easy mistake for anyone to make but we didn't point that out. Even though we apologized and immediately began to move away she started yelling at us that she wasn't responsible for our injuries. I'm not sure if she was threatening us or just being a colossal jerk. She followed up with a screaming, unprovoked rant cussing us out in front of our children. I have never had such an unfriendly experience with locals at a lake. Pine-unfriendly. We returned early from our rental end time due to feeling underwhelmed by the aforementioned circumstances. There were two dock attendants. We told them about the jerk. One attendant said we should never try to park at any of the lake docks and all were private. Gee, thanks for validating her teaching our kids new derogatory words for her failure to use proper signage. The other began explaining that there was a Pinecrest day use dock. Where was this guy when we departed? This could have saved us a lot of trouble. He started coaching us how it could go better next time but I let him know there wasn't going to be a next time. Pine-bust. One of our party had to use the bathroom after we vacated the rental and there was no tp or paper of any kind available in the bathrooms. Another thing to add to the bring it yourself and don't breathe too loud in the direction of the locals experience at this lake... read more

Wow amazing place to spend time with friends and family for camping for recreation for church service events I really like the area the mountains around this beautiful place the Lake has a beautiful views read more

If you want to come here you will need to leave very early. Arrive at 7-8am because it gets packed very fast. First come first serve one good thing no toll fee. The view is gorgeous and there is many activities to do. There is also a rental spot for boats, paddle boats and there's also hiking trails. My family and I had a good time. Just need to leave earlier and do more of a picnic style. So we can just chill and post up near the water. read more

Pinecrest Lake - Lakes Near Me - Pinecrest, California

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We were staying in Twain Harte, so we checked out Twain Harte Lake first....meh. It was ok, but there wasn't much to do there. And we would've had to pay just to lay out there. So we drove out to Pinecrest Lake, and wow....what a difference. There were so many people, and the lake was soooo much bigger! The beach was already pretty full since we got there around noon, but we managed to find a spot just big enough for the three of us. This beach was all dirt...hard packed dirt with some rocks here and there( http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/jhCNabvQxFQr5n6ZMQ68EQ/l ). If you're going to lay out on the beach, bring an extra towel to use as a pillow. Dirt and rocks aren't exactly very comfy. We laid out for a bit, and then decided to rent a boat. It was only $40 for two hours. We hopped in and off we went around the lake( http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/7gL9i85gE2511M1dYvK0vg/l ). We thought it would be a lot of fun, but after 30 minutes, we had already gone around the lake and then some. So we ended up finding a spot, and just sat there snacking. We saw a lot of people out paddle boating and kayaking( http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/4bG4kjSvac2Acb5FsiIx7A/l ). It was a gorgeous day, but it was a bit chilly on the lake. We headed back after 1 1/2 hours and called it a day. I would definitely want to come back because there are campgrounds and hiking trails around the lake. And it was a great place to get hit on by underage drunk boys with fake id's from Castro Valley. ;) read more

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Pinecrest lake is one of my favorite places to visit. My hubby and I usually reserved a campsite a year in advance because spots do fill up quickly. The lake is beautiful and the water is nice to swim in. The water is soo clear! We took our furbabies up to Pinecrest to camp, hike and boating. Bathrooms are clean and the views are spectacular. Definitely worth spending a summer weekend hanging out with friends and families. We LOVE Pinecrest! read more

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Some of the best memories of my childhood (and life, really) center around this lake. For as long as I can remember, until the age of 14, our family spent summer getaways and winter holidays at our cabin in Pinecrest, and we always always always made it a point to venture out to the lake as much as possible. The beach itself is relatively packed on weekends, but if the scene was too much for us, we'd begin our walk around the lake and find more than enough open beautiful spots right on the water's edge to enjoy a picnic and go swimming. Hiking the lake itself is a ton of fun, and only takes a couple hours if you're stopping along the way to swim or eat or take advantage of a photo opportunity. Now that I'm older, I want so badly to go back with an ice chest full of sandwiches and beer and lay out under a clear blue sky while soaking up the warm warm sun. read more

Visited on July 5, 2020 BEWARE!!! Take your family camping somewhere else!!! My husband and I were camping at New Melones for a week and decided to go to Lake Pinecrest to fish for the day. The drive there and back was absolutely breathtaking, but that is all the GOOD things I can say. If you have family values, then you definitely do not want to take your children here...not even for the day. Parents let their children run around unsupervised. Children as young as 5 years old were yelling F bombs at each other and calling others the "N" word. We endured this behavior for 8 solid hours. Their voices echoing throughout the lake. We also observed children as young as 10 paddling in kayaks BY THEMSELVES with no life jackets on and numerous boats filled with teenagers doing donuts in the water right outside the beach area just feet away from bank fisherman. Not once did we see a lifeguard, ranger or sheriff patrol the area. There was garbage thrown all over the lake, dogs let loose without leashes and peeing in the lake. This place is also one gigantic money pit. They will rent you a bike for the day, but what they don't tell you is that you cannot ride bikes on their "paved" trail around the lake. Mind you, their website mentions this wonderful "paved" trail that goes around the lake, but really that paved trail is about 20 feet in length and then it turns into a very dangerous dirt and rock trail. You have to maneuver around and over people and their belongings because it gets so CROWDED. As far as social distancing...they suggest you wear a mask, however, at the same time, they will allow you to go anywhere and everywhere in herds without a mask. All because they want your hard working DOLLAR!!!! Honestly, if you really want to have a nice camping experience with your children, or even if you do not have children, please don't choose Lake Pinecrest. This lake is an accident that is waiting to happen. As some final food for thought, I called the Tualomne Sheriff's Office to ask about patrolling the lake and was told that they have no life guards on duty and that, unfortunately, they only have 2 sheriffs officers available to patrol 6 other lakes (a total of 7 lakes). Everyone has to swim at their own risk!!!!! read more

My First time ever to visit this lake was at age 12-13 and, ever since then, this place stays in my memory forever 'cause such a beautiful site!!! For us outdoor lovers- you know exactly what I mean if you've already been here or when you visit. Great place to - hike, camp, fish, rent boats/canoes, picnic, bbq, social/family gatherings, etc. if the drive isn't too far from my home in Modesto, I will probably be here very often, especially during summer season! Definitely would recommend for any outdoor lovers to check this place out if haven't already done so! read more

We were staying across the road at the Pinecrest Camground, so it was natural that we take a trip around Pinecrest Lake. We heard about the trail and the hike from the internet and from friends, with mixed results from the internet. The one thing I noticed from the start is that there were no signs directing us towards the lake, we just headed in that general direction and followed the masses. One website we found said it was a leisurely hike of around 3 to 3.5 miles. Most sources suggested going clockwise around the lake, we agree. But it was not at all leisurely. The trail is an eclectic mix of paved path, dirt trail, stairs, smooth granite faces, and rocky trail. It is very well marked with triangular metal plates mounted just above ground. The only moment I hesitated where to go next, I saw a cairn at the top of a granite face. It was also not 3 to 3.5 miles around the lake, I would say closer to 4 to 4.5 miles. There are lots of people hiking on the weekends. That means you will not have a peaceful, solitary hike. You'll have to head away from the lake or go off the trail to get any solitude. Restrooms are only available at the trailhead, so go before you go. Bring sunscreen. It can get rather hot on the far side of the lake in the afternoon. read more

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By far one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever visited! There are plenty of parking spaces for guests to park, and many nearby stores that sell little knick knacks as well as souvenirs. My party and I rented one of the boats and took a trip around Pinecrest lake and the view was absolutely gorgeous! The surrounding area was kept clean and the air was fresh! I would recommend giving this place a visit if you're ever in Sonora! read more

Pinecrest Lake - Lakes Near Me - Pinecrest, California

Awesome place to relax. The fishing I was awesome! We stayed in a cabin at the Pinecrest Lake Resort. The Ca is we're all sanitized and spotless. The staff at the front desk were nice and extremely helpful. They have everything you need for a perfect vacation. Thanks read more

My family has been going to Pinecrest for 5 generations. There are so many great things about this area beginning with the short drive from the bay area - 3 hours+/- to the clean, beautiful campground, lake and outdoor ampitheater where they show movies at night. It hasn't changed much from the years I began going as a child. It's still beautiful, peaceful and is one of the few places you can go with a family and feel safe that the older kids can run around on their own. You can hang out all day at the beach, hike around the lake, rent paddle boats and party boats, or sit back and relax at camp watching the squirrels and birds steal your food. This is a campground WITH TREES! Big, beautiful trees! You're not just camping in the dirt. It's breathtaking. A couple days of camping is enough for me but I do look forward to our family reunion every year there. read more

Pinecrest Lake - Pinecrest lake - Lakes Near Me - Pinecrest, California

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Great place for a mini getaway with beautiful views. Love the smell of pines up here. Clean restrooms. Love this place for kayaking. Beach area is nice too. We called before going there and was told dogs were allowed, but saw sign for the beach area that stated "Dogs not allowed on beach area from May 15 (?) - Sept. 15" read more

Pinecrest Lake - What a beautiful place, small slice of heaven kayaking here. - Lakes Near Me - Pinecrest, California

What a great place to bring family and friends , the lake is a great place to hike, fish, boat , camp and eat. The evening weekends have an outdoor movie theater set up by an retired firefighter. He and his family run the place. Pretty good bar and food, with a country store. Don't buy batteries though, bring your own. I bought once , didn't work, returned , the next batch was out of charge. Camping here is great, pretty noisy at night. read more

I have lived in the area for about 6 years now. I never planned on camping at Pinecrest because I know there's way to many people. The only reason I went this year was because Pinecrest stated there will be a capacity limit due to Covid19. We went and still a little to many people to be comfortable. The main problem was the trashy wanna be tough guys saying mother F this and mother F that. Every other word was the F word, music so load and also F this and F that! They had kids in there group too! Just flat out Trash! Main problem was the campground staff did nothing to prevent this or tell them to tone it down. Also they had their generator running 24-7. I yelled in there direction (Language please! Kids all around!) they ignored me and kept cussing while listening to 2pac! Losers read more

Just a beautiful place to hike and have a outside BBQ with your friends and family. Love going to Pinecrest. Also really love the outside movie theater, hope it can open back up after Covid read more

Pinecrest Lake - where everything is made up and the rules don't matter. They are not enforcing any of their social distancing rules that I received several notifications about. There are literally about 15 people gathering in the site next to us at any given time. Day use is packed and the beach is inaccessible until 6 pm if you don't want crowds. The day use is completely unregulated with dogs everywhere and people parking until past midnight and pulling back in as early as 6 AM. We got knocked for leaving trash in our firepit (which we picked up) but garbage abounds in the day use. Pinecrest, I love you and I have been camping here since I was a child but you need to do better. read more

My first time at this beautiful lake was last summer 2019, it was beautiful and the lake is so much fun! Everyone is very nice and kids always have a great time swimming at this place! The camp grounds seem very nice and it's easy access for parking and walking out to find a sit down spot at the lake front. You can rent 4 passenger battle boats and there's a ice cream stand near the lake for yummy ice cream cones for everyone, it's haven't been anywhere else in this area but I would say this lake is my absolute favorite the scenery around it is so nice for pictures. read more

Beautiful lake to spend time with friends and family. Staff is friendly breathtaking drive.....

I just love it ok ! It's gorgeous and there's soft serve and cheap rentals and new movies to watch outside under the pines. Don't go though; I don't dig crowds. This is a place to chill not a loud music smoke something place. It's more take a nap under the tree or a walk in the pines vibe. read more

Educators gone wild!! That was us on Pinecrest Lake. We rented a party boat from the Marina, for $95.00 for 2 hours, and it was definitely well worth it. We fit 14 people on the boat, and easily could have fit atleast 3 or 4 more. The lake was beautiful and not over crowded. The boat renters/dockers were super friendly and nice. We specifically bonded with Matt. Ask for him! Our party walked in with 2 coolers and a case of Budweisers. That's right ladies and gentlemen, it really is "The King of Beers". We took flight and rode the waves. We went to different spots and rock jumped, swam, tanned, ate sandwiches, flashed, drank beer in & out of the water. All in all, we had a jolly good time. Definitely a day to remember . . . . or black out and forget. ;-P read more

Definitely one of my favorites Campsite in all of California and I have been to many. Campsite: All are well shaded with Pine Trees all over. The campsites are very spacious and flat. You can fit about 6 four man tents on each site. There were water spigots for every 4-5 sites. Bathrooms: There are only bathrooms (sink and toilet) within close proximity to the your campsite. Showers are located at the store. Store: There is a local convenient store for your forgotten items. Great for buying ice and firewood. Even has a bait shop for fishing. Amphitheatre: Yes, they have an outdoor theatre. Great for the kids. Fishing: The lake is stocked primarily with rainbow trout. Rentals: You can rent a kayak, paddle boats or a pontoon boat for navigating around the lake. You will be surprised on what you can discover. Hiking: About an 7-8 mile hike around the lake. Easy and fast. Beach. Small beach for swimming and sunbathing. Booking: Book early cause they sell out quick during the peak season. Im a fan for life. read more

Just discovered pinecrest and loved it. Yes, the camp sites are huge and so clean. The people are nice overall. The staff at the campsite were helpful and left you alone when you want privacy. Activities - everything water and more...you can chill or be active. This weekend was for me to chat and be with my friends. Loved it. Lake - awesome. Lovely morning runs around it. Fishing can be due if you wish, but I hate fishing. Kayaking paddle boats or just boating are great in this small dam/ lake. Coffee is great if you forgot to bring your own. I ran for 2 miles then walked to the stand for mocha....man, you just can't sleep when you are there. Campsite - huge space, rocks great for kids to Rin and jump. Bring your mountain bikes to ride. Water for cooking is every where. Bathrooms - closely but no light after 10 pm, no need to shower. Great friends and site made my experience at pinecrest one of the best campsites that I visited. read more

This was a great place to spend an afternoon. My friends and I (six total) drove up from San Francisco and arrived at our Airbnb in Sonora, where the property manager recommended Pinecrest. Lots of families around the lake for Memorial Day Weekend, but the water wasn't too crowded. It only cost us $35 total to take out a paddle boat (seats four) and a kayak (seats two) for an hour--less than $6 each! The employees at the boat facilities were friendly and funny too. I was on the kayak, and we paddled out to the other side of the lake, docked on the rock outcroppings, and did some hiking there, then paddled back. Pro tip: If you want to go out on the water in a paddle boat or kayak, bring a waterproof phone case or sandwich bag to avoid any mishaps. We didn't have any issues, but if your party is a bit more rambunctious or you bring your dog on the water (a group brought their dog on a paddleboat), you should probably do it for your peace of mind! read more

This is an amazing beautiful alpine lake. Came here this last weekend for some family bonding and camping. We stayed at the campgrounds and had a blast. Pros: - Great sandy/pebbly beaches - Great snack shack to grab a burger/fries/chicken strips/soft serve ice cream (wait can be long, but worth the wait) - plenty of picnic tables and benches along the beachy lake area - place to rent kayaks, wind sail, etc for cheap at the marina - clean, gorgeous water - great 4.5 mile trail around the lake to go hiking (trail was beautiful) - perfect trails to go mountain biking - low speed requirement on the lake which is great for no wake activies (like paddle boarding, etc) - lake has an outdoor amphitheater that shows movies for families and their children (there is even a Sunday Catholic Service here) - Campgrounds were clean - large rocks in the lake for the kids to jump off of. Cons: - beachy area can get crowded, so go early to claim your spot. We like it less populated, so we opted for an area off to the right with less craziness. - bathrooms at campgrounds did not have lights, so you'll have to bring your flashlight I would definitely come back to this place again... I love it! read more

There are many things to like about Pinecrest Lake and in particular, Pinecrest Lake Campground. The lake itself is charming. It is a petite lake but very nice. Very swimmable. The "beach" is essentially dirt but if you have flip flops/water socks you are OK. The parking lot is full by 11:00 and if you want to bring coolers, floaties, etc. it is tough to walk from your campsite unless you are in the area right across from the lake. There are bathrooms and a pretty good snack shack which sold burgers, fries, and very tasty (and HUGE) soft ice creams. A nice mid-afternoon treat. There is a kiosk from which one can rent all sorts of watercraft. We rented kayaks and went to the other side of the lake, en route we discovered a beautiful cove where we had a swim and sunned ourselves on the rocks. There are nightly campfire activities, including outdoor movies. There is a store (horrendously expensive but what if you forget marshmallows?) and you can also buy firewood. If you are staying longer than 2 nights take a drive and buy wood from a local guy. The campground itself is OK. Not the biggest campsites I've ever seen, not the smallest. Absolutely GROSS bathrooms and only one shower (near the store) which cost the astounding FIVE DOLLARS for 12 minutes. (We shared). And it was totally icky. Also, the bathrooms had NO LIGHT. I actually got lost one night. It is extremely dusty and dirty, do not bring any good stuff (in particular clothing) and bring twice as many socks as you think you need. Also allergy medicine if you're allergic to dust as I am. I totally had an attack but was better after Alavert. A fun tradition is that at sunset you will hear people calling "Elll----merrrrrr." Legend has it that a kid name Elmer got lost nearby and his mom was looking for him so at sunset people do that. Apparently it's only a tradition at Pinecrest and one other campground near Yosemite. It was really funny once we got in on the joke. Our campsite had a picnic table and fire ring but no food locker. People were really friendly and not too noisy. Decent amount of shade and trees and very nice for kids on bikes. Don't bring your dog, they are not permitted at the lake. Stop by Sonora on the way home and have lunch at the Miner's Shack (see my other review). read more

I had a Amazing time here with my son,boyfriend and friends this past weekend. The lake is absolutely gorgeous, great fishing & nice swimming all around the beach area. Dogs are allowed along the trail that begins near the marina. They have a outside movie theater here as well.. You can watch a movie under the stars which is really cool.They have horseback riding,local store and a few restaurants which is only a walking distance away.We brought our bikes here and it seemed everyone had bikes and rode their bikes everywhere here.The people here are very friendly and welcoming.I had a couple friends that camped at Yosemite and said they prefer camping here by far.The people here aren't uptight either we can drink on the beach and it still was clean, everyone cleans after themselves..I saw a occasional group of skinny dipping in the morning..but hey they are on vacation let them enjoy themselves... I give this place two thumbs up! NO bears....Nice people...Beautiful lake and beach..good time with fam and friends..away from the city.. What else can you ask for? Grab a beer,relax and enjoy the beach... read more

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Favorite lake in the world! You can hike around the entire lake in a few short hours. It's a fairly easy hike and you often see families and children walking it. We rented a pontoon for the day and fished off of it and also docked several times to swim and jump off the several jumping rock sites around the lake. The day use area consists of several beachy swim areas to picnic and lay out at. There is a great store to buy firewood and ice and pretty much anything you need. There is a tackle shop with flotation devices to purchase and the Steam Donkey restaurant and Bar next door. My only complaint about this lake is that parking is insane and feels like the mall at Christmas where you have to stalk people and follow them back to their cars to get their parking spot! read more

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I have been coming to Pinecrest since I was three; my family has a cabin on the north shore of the lake that has been in the family since the 1930's. Needless to say, I love this place, maybe more than anywhere else in the world. Aside from being a naturally beautiful setting, I have a deep sense of family history attached (nearly all the north shore cabin owners have grown up with each other, and have for multiple generations). There is just nowhere as relaxing, enlivening and rejuvenating to visit. Even hard work around the cabin offers a zen sort of satisfaction. There are beautiful hikes all around - the lake circuit is excellent, and the walks up the canyon, catfish lakes, outlook and look out are superb. Not to mention being the perfect gateway for pack trips into the Emigrant Wilderness. Shooting across the lake at dusk to catch an outdoor movie, burger at the beach shack after a long hike, cold beer at the Steam Donkey for, well, any reason at all, early morning trips up the canyon with fly rod in hand, the smell of campfires, bear clover, pollen on the water, sitting around the fire rock sipping vino, listening to ripples lap against the dock, canoeing to the river mouth, diving for fishing lures snagged in the shallow rocks, watching osprey and bald eagles hunt at dawn, watching the sun set and stars come out - nothing compares. I grew up with amazing memories of this place, and now look forward to my kids having their own amazing memories here. read more

I don't really think it gets much better than Pinecrest Lake. Seriously. It's probably my favourite place in all of Tuolumne County. In the summers, working up at the Donk, I'd get discounted boat rentals at the marina and head across the lake with my friends. Butterfly is probably the best hangout, jumping off rocks and such. For some reason, the water always seems warmer over there, too. Hiking around the lake is awesome. You get some great views of the water and big huge granite mountains surrounding the water, and there are some interesting spots where the Park Service has installed stairs to get people over the boulders in the way of the trail. Great camping! Either right on the lake at the Pinecrest Campground, a short walk to Meadowview, or up the road for groups at Pioneer Trail Campground. Our annual family camp outs in the summer were the best, when all of my family and friends gathered at Pioneer Trail for a long weekend! Some decent rock-climbing (ok, bouldering) at various points around the lake. Also, it gets stocked with rainbow trout every summer for all the fishermen (or fisherwomen). I could just sit on a quiet beach in the sun with a book in hand all summer long. And for some good exercise, don't miss the Pinecrest Run! That hill is KILLER! read more

This is a pretty great place. Lots of sandy beach in order to enjoy the lake. They allow alcohol. There are real restrooms, a general store, camping, boat ramp and boat rentals, plus much more. The only downside is the parking. There's no entry fee of any kind, so by about 9:00 AM on weekends this place is packed. Expect a half mile walk on most days. read more

Loved it! I have always wanted to go to Pinecrest, but never got the chance. Today was a not so beautiful day though, it was smoky everywhere! Gotta come back when the smoke clears. Had a lot of fun today. It was packed! I couldn't believe there were soo many people there, but then again its weekend duh :) I had loads of fun kayaking the lake for 2 hours. It may be crazy packed in the beach front area, but along the sides of the lake it was quiet peaceful, so you gotta just pick and choose your areas. I wish they had lifeguards or someone at this lake who monitor water activities for safety issues. read more

Gorgeous views, Great Weather, and Nice Clean Campgrounds. Hubby and I traveled the weekend after Memorial Day with our 4 Kids and beloved dog Dixie. I do suggest insect repellent, warm clothes for the evenings, and good walking shoes. Flip flops are nice for lounging campsite but there is rougher terrain walking to lake and fishing spots. Great bike riding trails in and around campsites for younger children and low impact riders. We camped 3 nights/4 days and by the 3rd day opted for a $5 shower worth every penny. Definitely, a family friendly destination for tent camping, fishing, biking, and relaxing. read more

Pinecrest Lake - Camping 2013 @ Pinecrest - Lakes Near Me - Pinecrest, California

My family has had a cabin here since the 1940's and it will forever be my happy place. The 4/5 stars is because of all the tourism that's been taking over this wonderful treasure. This lake continues to become more and more over crowded and is losing its charm. There used to be so many little sail boats on the water, and now there are party boats, and pontoons in their place. The beaches used to be full of cabin dwelling families and their pet dogs splashing around on a warm day and now it's all tents and blankets thrown around in attempts to "save" or reserve spots and signs posted up reading "NO DOGS ALLOWED." I will always come back here, but I do hope that some of the many things that made this place unique return in my lifetime. read more

Can't go wrong here. Huge campsites,beautiful lake,tons of amenities, store, post office,outdoor amphitheater that runs current theater movies ,a great beach to just chill out. You may also want to rent a party boat !!! There is also a great hike around the lake that averages about 2 hours to hike, Showers are $5 so do what we did and just jump in the lake !! Bring a Trout pole for the kids ....and yourself as the fishing is great !!! read more

We only came up here for one night, before the snow was gone. We stayed in a regular cabin and was pleasantly suprised at how nice it was. While things were a bit outdated (old school 19 inch tube tv) the beds were decent and everything was fairly clean. We didnt even have to leave the site to play in the snow. We were playing like crazy on the tennis courts since thats where they plow all the snow to. It was pretty fun! There is plenty of places to eat, you just need to drive a bit. We didnt have a chance to eat in the on-site resturant, but it was pretty pricey from the looks of the menu. Overall, we'll definately come back during the summer for a different experience, and would certainly consider returning in the winter for more fun in the snow! read more

Dont come here expecting a nice quiet little mountian lake. The scenery is beautiful but people crammed in eveywhere not as peaceful and relaxing as i would like. read more

Pinecrest Lake - Lakes Near Me - Pinecrest, California

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A breathtaking relaxation my get-away from the city kind of place! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone! read more

Pinecrest Lake - Lakes Near Me - Pinecrest, California

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Once you go here, you'll keep going... I've been visiting this lake for over 30 years and absolutely love it. The camping can get crowded during holiday weekends, but if you are up there for the hiking, you'll find a lot of folks just stay at the beach anyway :). The hike around the lake is really nice and if you can get up to Cleo's bath in the spring, that's even better. I did not discover Cleo's bath until I was 18 and a friend exposed me to it. The last time we took the entire family up, including a 3 yr old! The last climb is where a lot of people turn around, but that's all it is, the last climb! Once you get up to the top, have lunch (KEEP IT CLEAN!) swim in the waterfalls, rest up, and head back down before dark! Place is a real gem - reserve your camp site early or stay at a nearby cabin and book early! read more

You really can't go wrong at this gorgeous spot. This is the perfect place to spend a summer day - there are plenty of beachy spots to lounge on (bring soft towels and/or pillows, b/c these beaches consist of a lot of hard-packed dirt and pebbles). There's also a convenient snack-shack, and a and kayak/paddle-boat rental. I haven't hiked the trail around the lake (too caught up in lounging and picnicking and such), but it's definitely on my list of things to do! read more