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Stanislaus/Pinecrest
Overview
Stanislaus/Pinecrest, specifically known as the Pinecrest Lake Campground, offers a quintessential California mountain experience for RV travelers. Nestled among towering conifers and massive granite outcrops, this park provides a premier gateway to the high Sierra. It is widely regarded as a legendary destination for those seeking a deep connection with the natural world. The atmosphere is traditional and nostalgic, serving as a peaceful retreat where the scent of pine fills the air and the stresses of modern life fade away.
Location & Surroundings
Situated at an elevation of approximately 5,600 feet, the park is located in the heart of the scenic Stanislaus National Forest. The surrounding landscape is dominated by the sparkling waters of Pinecrest Lake, which is located within easy walking distance from most campsites. The area is characterized by cool mountain breezes, dense cedar and pine forests, and dramatic mountain ridgelines, offering a perfect high-altitude escape from the valley heat during the summer months.
Amenities & Park Features
While the sites are designed for a more rustic experience, they provide essential features to ensure a comfortable stay. The campground accommodates a variety of RV sizes, though visitors should remember there are no hookups provided on-site. Key features include:
- Paved parking pads and sturdy picnic tables for outdoor dining.
- Access to clean flush toilets and potable water throughout the loops.
- A convenient dump station located near the entrance for waste management.
Each site is also equipped with a heavy-duty fire ring, perfect for classic evening campfires under the stars.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw is the nearby lake, where visitors spend their days swimming, kayaking, and fishing for rainbow trout. A well-maintained four-mile hiking trail circles the water, providing stunning vistas of the Sierra Nevada peaks. During the summer season, the historic outdoor amphitheater hosts nightly movies and educational forest programs. Additionally, the adjacent resort area features a general store, post office, and bicycle rentals to enhance your mountain stay.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for active families and nature lovers who prefer a traditional forest environment over a modern RV resort. It is a top choice for RVers who are self-contained and enjoy the serenity of dry camping near the water. If you value easy access to scenic hiking, high-country boating, and a classic mountain atmosphere, this campground offers an authentic California experience that is difficult to match.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
juan narvaez
Really nice place to go and relax full of trails ups and downs and the view was amazing, lots of wind and the temperature was perfect overall was a really nice experience specially with close friends.👍👍🫶
Hitoshi Watanabe (Kevin)
We went camping with three families! There was a lake nearby, and it was such a wonderful spot. There weren’t any showers, but there were toilet facilities. However, since there was no electricity, it was completely dark at night. At the lake, we could swim and even ride a motorboat to explore around. It was a great experience for the kids as well. The only thing was that it got really cold at night during this season.
Kodi Fletcher
We had such a great stay at Pinecrest RV Park. The campground is tucked away in the tall pines, giving plenty of shade and that true mountain feel. Our site was pretty tight for our truck and trailer, but we loved how great the camp site sizes were. The location is perfect for families, with nearby trails that our kids enjoyed riding their bikes on. It was peaceful, clean, and had that relaxing forest atmosphere we were looking for. Highly recommend it for anyone wanting a getaway in nature while boon-docking.
John Schuch II
Such a hidden gem! We booked our next trip before leaving! Plenty of places to camp. Wonderful lake amenities. Movie theater at night! So much fun!!
Phung V
This campground is absolutely beautiful, with stunning lake views that make it a perfect spot for a relaxing getaway. One of the highlights is the outdoor movie theater on Saturday night, which adds a fun and unique touch to the camping experience. The campsites require reservations, so be sure to book ahead of time. The day use area can get very crowded, especially on weekends, so arriving early is recommended if you’re planning a visit just for the day. Overall, it’s a scenic and enjoyable place to spend time outdoors. 🚫phone signal
Ahmad Faisal Noory
The best place for camping , hiking, swimming, picnic all at the same place
Rayna O'coyne
camps were closed for winter but we could still visit the park, we camped on 108 overnight with no problems, just gotta find a place to park. the air is amazing up there too, wish we had air like that in the valley.
Beach Boy
Relaxing family, vacation spot. Just a couple miles from the town of Strawberry. Perfect small lake for boating, fishing and swimming. Campground has some sites facing the water, but typically the least private. Coin-operated hot showers or just head to the lake with some soap. The general store has almost everything you may need. There’s even a restaurant with a small lounge next door. They rent bicycles and boats too. Ideal place for a hike around the lake on a groomed trail, or a bike ride through the woods. One of the evening highlights is watching a movie under the stars and seated on an open-faced log, with the lake as a backdrop. Try to avoid the end of September and early October for tent camping, because you never know about the weather. I wouldn’t recommend a day trip to Yosemite’s north entrance, because you’ll spend too much time driving, as opposed to seeing anything. Save that for a separate vacay or allot a couple extra days to visit. Also, the north entrance to Yosemite isn’t that pretty of a drive by comparison to the south. The north only has the town of Groveland (consisting of just a few blocks); whereas the south entrance starts up at the highest points of Yosemite and descends down to the valley in spectacular fashion. Take a day trip more appropriately into Jamestown and Sonora for some gold panning fun, or stroll through Twain Harte.
Laura and Ray
We want to share the perfect site if you bring an rv, trailer or just for camping. Site B6 is not good for rv/trailer because the site pad has a slope, B5 is great for an Rv/trailer, B3 is not good for RV/trailer with slides, there is a lot of trees. C11 is great for big RV, you have a good space to maneuver, C36 is great too.for big travel trailer or RV. D31 to D37 are great but nor for big travel trailer or RV, you have the Lake view and great space for your tents E2 is super tiny!!!! Enjoy the campground, pick up your trash and have fun!!! Drive safe and bring sweaters and blankets because the nights starting to get cold!!!
James Hill Real Estate
Nice place to bring children and teenagers. Lake was very nice, bathrooms clean, clean camp sites, friendly vibe and everything centrally located. We went during the week and the noise factor after 10:00 was pretty loud. It was cool with me but may be a problem with sleeping kids. I could see how this place could really get packed and raucus during a summer weekend ☮️