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Credit 1 Pam Starr
2 Alyn Robert Brereton
3 Julie MacKinnon
4 Linda Pittman
5 Parham Pourahmad
6 Larry Whiting
7 Randall Finley
Area: 1,500 Acres
Lat: 38.1951 N
Lon:  119.9813 W
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Boat Launch Camping/lodging Drinking Water
Fee Group Camping Picnic Area
Restrooms Trails Trash Cans
Visitor Center/Ranger Station
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Top Banner Photo Credits
Pam Starr
Alyn Robert Brereton
Julie MacKinnon
Linda Pittman
Parham Pourahmad
Larry Whiting
Randall Finley
Pinecrest Lake - Site # 163
The Pinecrest Lake Recreation Area lies in a timbered setting at an elevation of 5,600 feet in the Stanislaus National Forest. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly stocks Pinecrest Lake with rainbow trout. Also known as Strawberry Reservoir, Pinecrest has a surface area of 300 acres with four miles of mountainous, tree-covered shoreline. The US Forest Service has jurisdiction over the 300 campsites, a group camp, picnic sites next to the beach, a paved launch ramp and a fishing pier.

Pinecrest Lake Resort: 871x490 Pinecrest Lake: 870x462

Background: This popular recreational lake bordered by the granite walls of the Stanislaus River canyon attracts common mergansers, mallards, and ring-necked ducks. Bald eagles and ospreys, including a nesting pair, visit from fall through spring. About one dozen species of woodpeckers inhabit the forest; northern flickers, red-breasted sapsuckers, white-headed woodpeckers, and hairy woodpeckers are comon. Scan the oaks for mountain quail, band-tailed pigeions, and mourning doves. Stringer meadows and the adjacent forest sustain many mammals and songbirds year-round. Steller's jays, mountain chickadees, and brown creepers are joined seasonally by ruby-crowned kinglets, evening grosbeaks, pine siskins, and Nashville warblers.

The Experience: The original lake was built in 1856 when a dam was constructed. The lake was known as Strawberry Lake because of the wild strawberries that grew in the area. A new rock and concrete dam was built in 1916. The name of the lake was changed in the 1960s to Pinecrest Lake; the dam is still known as Strawberry Dam.

Viewing Tips: Peak viewing season May to November. Ranger station offers summer birding walks. Excellent viewing from Pinecrest Lake National Recreation (PLNR) Trail. Universally accessible viewing from parking area and Pinecrest Fish Pier.

Site Notes: To make camping reservations 877-444-6777
Eco Trail Map available at Pinecrest Kiosk Booth at the campground.
For more information, visit: www.sierranevadageotourism.org

Nearby Viewing Sites: Yosemite National Park

Visitor Information: Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau - 800-446-1333 or 209-533-4420 - http://www.visittuolumne.com
Viewing Site Hours of Operation are:
Staff On-site: Yes
Open: Everday
Hours: 8:30am to 4pm varies seasonally
Year Round: Yes

Road Information:   Paved. 
Road Hazards: Road closures occur in heavy winter storms but roads are always plowed to access Dodge Ridge.
 Number of Parking Spaces: 250
Parking Fee: No
Proximity to viewing area:
 Pull-Through Parking: Yes
Parking Notes: Day use parking area in the process of being redesigned. Watch for pedestrians especially on weekends.

Special Tips: This site can be accessed by passenger car; Fish available include: Trout; Types of fishing available include: Wade, Shore, Motorized boat, Float tube, Fly, Spin, Bait; ADA Accessible fishing access with fishing pier and boat launch.

How to Get There: From Sonora, take Highway 108 east 30 miles. Turn right on Pinecrest Lake Road (at ranger station). Drive about 0.75 mile, turn right and continue about 0.5 mile around south shore to end-of-road parking and PLNR Trailhead.
 

Contact Information
Managing Agency: USDA Foerst Service - Summit Ranger District
Agency Site URL: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/stanislaus/recarea/?recid=15095
Physical Address:#1 Pinecrest Lake Road
Pinecrest, CA 95364
Agency 2:
Sonora, CA 95370
Manager Phone:(209) 532-3671 - Stanislaus Headquarters
Site Phone:(209) 965-3434 - Summit
County: Tuolumne
Addition Website:  https://www.recreation.gov/unifSearchResults.do