Pioneer Trail
Campground
Campground · 1.5 mi from the trail
California · Lake fishing · Strawberry · Near Bear Valley
Pinecrest Lake
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 15 h ago
Is Pinecrest Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Pinecrest Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Stanislaus National Forest extends seasonal MVUM closure for two high elevation roads
Agency closure covering Stanislaus National Forest · USFS · Stanislaus National Forest
Extension of Seasonal Road Closures
Agency closure covering Stanislaus National Forest · USFS · Stanislaus National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Stanislaus National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Pinecrest Lake is a 6-acre lake near Strawberry, California, at about 6,011 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsJunkyardsparkle, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Junkyardsparkle, CC0 (commons)
More in Bear ValleyBest time to go · May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best time to visit Pinecrest Lake
Best months: May–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
49° / 31°
10 wet · 5 snow
Feb
51° / 31°
10 wet · 5 snow
Mar
55° / 33°
10 wet · 5 snow
Apr
61° / 37°
8 wet · 2 snow
May
70° / 44°
6 wet · 1 snow
Jun
80° / 51°
3 wet
Jul
89° / 58°
1 wet
Aug
89° / 57°
1 wet
Sep
82° / 53°
2 wet
Oct
70° / 44°
4 wet
Nov
57° / 36°
7 wet · 2 snow
Dec
49° / 31°
9 wet · 4 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cherry Valley Dam, CA, 16.5 mi away at 4,765 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Similar waters
Like this spot? Try:
Keep exploring — more waters worth the drive
SEE
Leland Reservoir
~3 min drive
Leland Reservoir is a 10-acre reservoir near Strawberry, California, at about 6,310 feet.
SEE
Pinecrest Day Use
~2 min drive
SEE
Highway 108 Corridor
~22 min drive
SEE
Chain Lakes
~12 min drive
Chain Lakes is a 6-acre lake in California, at about 7,598 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Donnell Reservoir
~15 min drive
SEE
Rosasco Lake
~17 min drive
Rosasco Lake is a 5-acre lake near Pinecrest, California, at about 7,914 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Kibbie Lake
~22 min drive
Kibbie Lake is a 118-acre lake near Groveland, California, at about 6,513 feet. It is managed by the National Park Service.
SEE
Boundary Lake
~23 min drive
Boundary Lake is a 53-acre lake in California, at about 7,529 feet. It is managed by the National Park Service.
SEE
Pruett Lake
~23 min drive
Pruett Lake is a 7-acre lake in California, at about 7,964 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Spotted Fawn Lake
~25 min drive
Spotted Fawn Lake is a 74-acre lake in California, at about 7,325 feet. It is managed by the National Park Service.
