Can you reserve a site at Pinecrest Day Use Area?

Yes, Pinecrest Day Use Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Pinecrest Day Use Area — 3 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

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.

Recreation

Pinecrest Lake is popular for swimming, hiking, kayaking, fishing and sailing (small boats). A nearby resort offers boat rentals, lodging and groceries. Movies and interpretive programs are provided in the evenings at the amphitheater, also located in the day use area. Two campgrounds within the Pinecrest Basin offer opportunities at nearly 300 campsites within one mile from the Pinecrest Day Use Area. *Outdoor movie showings and interpretive programs typically end for the season by mid-October due to weather. Please check for availability.

Facilities

Group use sites are fully accessible and provide group size pedestal grills, food storage boxes, group picnic tables and food prep table. Water hydrants and recycle and garbage cans are also located within the sites. Flush toilets are located nearby.

* Water hydrants are not available during the winter months due to freezing. ** Group sites may be under snow during winter months. Please plan accordingly as accessibility may be limited after heavy snowfall.

Natural Features

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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (209) 459-9236.

Nearby Attractions

The Pinecrest National Recreation Trail traverses Pinecrest Lake for an easy four mile hike. Numerous opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating and lake play are within 100 feet from each group use picnic site.

The facts

Season: April – October — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
3 bookable sites
3 sites for day use only
3 accessible sites
Up to 50 people per site
Loops: PINECREST DAY USE AREA

Site types

3 Group Picnic Area

Amenities

Picnic tables
Grills
Shade

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, pets allowed.

Book on Recreation.gov

3 campsites at Pinecrest Day Use Area

Check-in 8:00 AM · Check-out 10:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Water	Max rig	People
Cedar	PINECREST DAY USE AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	—	Lakefront	—	50	♿
Fir	PINECREST DAY USE AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	—	Lakefront	—	50	♿
Pine	PINECREST DAY USE AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	—	Lakefront	—	50	♿

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.

38.19139, -119.99333 · 38°11'29.0"N 119°59'36.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 89°F in Jul, down to 49°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	49	51	55	61	70	81	89	89	82	70	57	49
Low °F	31	31	33	37	44	51	58	57	53	45	36	31
Precip in	9.7	8.3	7.4	3.9	2.6	0.8	0.3	0.1	0.4	2.7	4.6	8.3

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 15.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Pinecrest Day Use Area

Can you reserve a site at Pinecrest Day Use Area?: Yes, Pinecrest Day Use Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Pinecrest Day Use Area have?: 3 sites.

Also listed by

Pinecrest Day Use Area also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Pinecrest Day Use Area's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

$40.00 for a single-family site

Restrictions:

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

Accessibility:

Sites are not fully accessible for persons with disabilities. Campground was built in the 1960's prior to accessibility standards. Attempts to improve some sites and amenities have been made but are found sporadically in the campground.

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Pinecrest Day Use Area

Pinecrest 0.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Pioneer Trail 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Meadowview Campground 0.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Sugar Pine Railway - Strawberry to Fraser 1.5 mi · Facility
Crabtree Cross-Country Ski Trailhead 1.5 mi · Facility
Gooseberry Cross-Country Ski Trailhead 1.7 mi · Facility
TeleLi puLaya (Black Oak) Campground 3.2 mi · Campground
Fraser Flat Fishing Pier Day Use 4.6 mi · Facility
Beardsley Dam Campground 4.7 mi · Campground
Herring Creek Campground 4.9 mi · Campground
Herring Reservoir Campground 5 mi · Campground
Highway 108 Sno-Park 5.3 mi · Facility

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Pinecrest Day Use Area