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Major city · United States

Pinecrest

Go for 1–2 nights in Jun–Sep for the lake and the 8 km loop; skip in winter unless you are skiing Dodge Ridge and can drive in snow.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep (lake full, warm days); Feb–Mar for Dodge Ridge snow
avoid Nov–Dec and Apr–May (thin snow, closed trails, half-open services)
Airports
OAK · SFO · SMF
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Pinecrest is a small resort cluster on Highway 108 in the Stanislaus National Forest, about 30 miles northeast of Sonora at roughly 5,000 ft. The draw is Pinecrest Lake: swim, fish, rent a boat, walk the 8 km shoreline loop to Strawberry Dam. Beds are scarce — campground and motel reservations go months ahead, and private cabins are limited to two weeks of paid rental a year, so treat lodging as the first thing you book, not the last.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Pinecrest, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee at the local café$3–6
  • Street or quick mealBurger and fries at the snack bar$10–16
  • Budget bedForest Service campsite, a night, per roomUS$30
  • Mid-range bedForest Service campsite, a night, per roomUS$45
  • High-end bedForest Service campsite, a night, per roomUS$70

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$130 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Pinecrest Lake swimming and trout fishingThe 8 km lake loop to Strawberry DamDodge Ridge ski area in winterHighway 108 Sonora Pass country
Airports
OAK Oakland (About 3 h 30 min by car via Highway 108; the usual rental-car gateway) · SFO San Francisco International (About 4 h by car; more flights, longer drive) · SMF Sacramento (About 3 h by car; closest big airport for many routings)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Pinecrest: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C

−5°C

8 rd

Feb

7°C

−5°C

8 rd

Mar

10°C

−3°C

9 rd

Apr

13°C

−1°C

6 rd

May

18°C

3°C

4 rd

Jun

24°C

7°C

2 rd

Jul

29°C

11°C

1 rd

Aug

28°C

10°C

1 rd

Sep

24°C

7°C

2 rd

Oct

18°C

2°C

4 rd

Nov

11°C

−2°C

6 rd

Dec

6°C

−5°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Once you reach the lake and resort area, walk or bike — the general store rents bikes and gives out a simple trail map. A car is needed for Cold Springs, Strawberry and Dodge Ridge. There is no gas station in Pinecrest, so fill up in Mi-Wuk Village or Sonora before you climb.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Dodge Ridge ski area

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Drive Highway 108 west about 10 min

Winter skiing and snowboarding; snowplay areas nearby.

Columbia State Historic Park

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive Highway 108 west to Sonora, then Highway 49 north

Gold Rush main street; a half day is enough.

Sonora

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive Highway 108 west

Supplies, gas and the county's main restaurant strip.

Yosemite National Parkcaution

Door to door: About 2 h to the Big Oak Flat entrance

Drive west to Sonora, then Highway 120 east

Doable as a long day, but better as an overnight; check Highway 120 status.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Pinecrest Lake Road cluster

General store, library, café and the lake trailhead within a 10-minute walk; motel rooms and campground here sell out months ahead.

Cold Springs

A few minutes west on Highway 108; a couple of restaurants and cabin rentals, still walkable to nothing.

Strawberry

Next cluster east on Highway 108; the Strawberry Inn is the main hotel option, about 5 minutes by car from the lake.

Campgrounds around the lake

Forest Service sites; reserve on Recreation.gov as soon as dates open, and expect no hookups.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–200 excl. bed
High
$200+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or lodge room1 × 2 nights × US$180US$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$130US$520
Boat or kayak rental, half day2 × US$40 · checkUS$80
Dodge Ridge lift ticket, one day2 × US$100 · checkUS$200
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$119
Trip total≈ US$327 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,309

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee at the local café$3–6
Burger and fries at the snack bar$10–16
Soft-serve ice cream$4–7
Kayak or paddle boat rental, per hour$20–40 (check)
Fishing licence, one day (California resident / non-resident)$20 / $25 (check)
Campsite, per night$30–70 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low-crime resort area; the real risks are mountain driving, cold lake water, thin ice in winter and no cell signal — tell someone your plan before a hike.
  • No gas in Pinecrest: fill up in Mi-Wuk Village or Sonora.
  • Cell service is spotty; download offline maps before Highway 108.
  • The lake drops late in summer — the swimming buoys can end up on dry ground.
  • Winter ice on the lake is not reliably safe; people have gone through.
  • The lake loop has rocky and muddy stretches and a steep drop near the dam.
  • Highway 108 over Sonora Pass closes in winter; check road conditions before driving from the east.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Tuolumne County Sheriff (non-emergency)
209-533-5815
Stanislaus National Forest, Summit Ranger District
209-965-3434

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PinecrestPinecrest

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Tuolumne County Sheriff (non-emergency)209-533-5815
  • Summit Ranger District209-965-3434

Embassy

No consulates in the area; nearest are in San Francisco. US travellers: 911.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Gas, Mi-Wuk Village to Pinecrest: about 10 miles; no gas in Pinecrest
  • Dodge Ridge day ticket: about $100 (check)
  • Campsite, per night: $30–70 (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is the lake trail open? — Is the lake trail open?
  • Do you have a table for two? — Do you have a table for two?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there Wi-Fi here? — Is there Wi-Fi here?
  • How far to the dam? — How far to the dam?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Pinecrest. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep (lake full, warm days); Feb–Mar for Dodge Ridge snow · avoid Nov–Dec and Apr–May (thin snow, closed trails, half-open services) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources