California · Rock climbing · Strawberry

Pinecrest Lake

Pinecrest Lake is a California climbing area with 2 routes and 2 difficulty grades.

Pinecrest LakePhoto: A Silly Person, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
2 routes
5.8 – 5.10b
Trad

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).

As of · Source: USFS · Stanislaus National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

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.

  1. Jan

    49° / 31°

    10 wet · 5 snow

  2. Feb

    51° / 31°

    10 wet · 5 snow

  3. Mar

    55° / 33°

    10 wet · 5 snow

  4. Apr

    61° / 37°

    8 wet · 2 snow

  5. May

    70° / 44°

    6 wet · 1 snow

  6. Jun

    80° / 51°

    3 wet

  7. Jul

    89° / 58°

    1 wet

  8. Aug

    89° / 57°

    1 wet

  9. Sep

    82° / 53°

    2 wet

  10. Oct

    70° / 44°

    4 wet

  11. Nov

    57° / 36°

    7 wet · 2 snow

  12. 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, 16.1 mi away at 4,765 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Pinecrest Lake is a climbing area in the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within the forest's network of trails and climbing spots, and several other destinations lie within a short drive. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cherry Valley Dam show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 70°F, while July and August average highs near 89°F. That station sits about 1,000 feet lower than the lake, so temperatures at the climbing area run cooler. Cleos Bath, a mountain biking spot, is just 0.2 miles away, and Pinecrest Peak is 0.7 miles off. Pinecrest Lake Buttress, another climbing area, is about a mile away, and Pinecrest Day Use, a pier fishing spot, is roughly 1.4 miles away.

Routes (2)

Pinecrest Dam Slab(1)

Looks Like a Line5.8