Pinecrest Lake Day Use

Area Status: Open

At a Glance

Current Conditions:	Summit Ranger District (HWY 108) Plan ahead for alternate location to recreate if parking lots are full and day use area is crowded. Parking will be strictly enforced.
Operational Hours:	Hours are 6 am to 10 pm
Reservations:	Group Day Use Picnic Sites are available by reservation year-round. Three sites accomodate up to 50-people each. $60 per day, reservations available 12-months in advance. Visit Recreation.gov Pinecrest to reserve a site.
Area Amenities:	Accessible, Boat ramp, Picnic tables, Toilets, Drinking water, Parking
Fees:	No fee for parking and visiting the day use area including for the use of a single picnic table and grill. For a large-group picnic site, the fee is $60 per-day per-site and can be reserved at Recreation.gov up to 12-months in advance. Fees are not accepted on site.
Usage:	Heavy
Busiest Season:	Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends
Restrictions:	Pinecrest Day Use is for day use only, overnight camping is prohibited, (hours are from 6am to 10pm). Pets are not permitted within the Day Use Area between May 15 and September 15. Pets MUST be on a leash at ALL TIMES in the Pinecrest Lake Recreation Area per Tuolumne County Ordinance. Boating is permitted on the lake and subject to a 20-mph speed limit on the lake and a 5-mph speed limit near the marina and swimming area, (personal watercrafts are prohibited). Fishing is permitted on the lake, (fishing is prohibited at the marina docks, from the Forest Service boat launch area or within the designated swimming area). The swimming area at Beach 1 enclosed and marked by white buoys is for swimming only, (no hard shell boats or fishing in the swimming area). Overnight boat storage on the beach or shore is prohibited which includes pop-up awnings and float toys, (items left overnight will be considered abandoned and removed). Foot travel only on the Pinecrest National Recreation Trail, (bicycles and other modes are prohibited).
Closest Towns:	Strawberry, Cold Springs
Water:	Drinking fountain at Restrooms
Restroom:	Flush toilets available throughout the day-use area
Operated By:	USDA Forest Service in partnership with PG&E
Information Center:	There are many picnic tables and grills available on first-come, first-serve basis and with no fee. During winter snow season, site may buried under snow. If large group site is reserved during this period, snow removal will NOT be provided to gain access to table and grills.

General Information

Directions: One mile from Summit Ranger District office.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Lake and Pond Fishing

Viewing Scenery

Visitor Programs

Visitor interpretive programs are offered in the summer at Pinecrest Lake Day Use Area. Visit the Outdoor Learning page for a program schedule.

Group Picnicking

Swimming

Amenities

Picnic tables:	Picnic tables are provided throughout the day use area
Parking:	Parking is available and can be full on weekends, plan accordingly
Toilets:	Flush toilets are nearby
Accessible:	Day Use site is accessible for person with disabilities
Boat ramp:	Boat ramp is nearby the marina
Drinking water:	Drinking water is available and found outside restroom buildings