| Area: 1,500 Acres | ||
| Lat: 38.1951 N | ||
| Lon: 119.9813 W | ||
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| Pinecrest Lake - Site # 163 | |||
| The Pinecrest Lake Recreation Area lies in a timbered setting at an elevation of 5,600 feet in the Stanislaus National Forest. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly stocks Pinecrest Lake with rainbow trout. Also known as Strawberry Reservoir, Pinecrest has a surface area of 300 acres with four miles of mountainous, tree-covered shoreline. The US Forest Service has jurisdiction over the 300 campsites, a group camp, picnic sites next to the beach, a paved launch ramp and a fishing pier. | |||
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| Background: | This popular recreational lake bordered by the granite walls of the Stanislaus River canyon attracts common mergansers, mallards, and ring-necked ducks. Bald eagles and ospreys, including a nesting pair, visit from fall through spring. About one dozen species of woodpeckers inhabit the forest; northern flickers, red-breasted sapsuckers, white-headed woodpeckers, and hairy woodpeckers are comon. Scan the oaks for mountain quail, band-tailed pigeions, and mourning doves. Stringer meadows and the adjacent forest sustain many mammals and songbirds year-round. Steller's jays, mountain chickadees, and brown creepers are joined seasonally by ruby-crowned kinglets, evening grosbeaks, pine siskins, and Nashville warblers. | ||
| The Experience: | The original lake was built in 1856 when a dam was constructed. The lake was known as Strawberry Lake because of the wild strawberries that grew in the area. A new rock and concrete dam was built in 1916. The name of the lake was changed in the 1960s to Pinecrest Lake; the dam is still known as Strawberry Dam. | ||
| Viewing Tips: | Peak viewing season May to November. Ranger station offers summer birding walks. Excellent viewing from Pinecrest Lake National Recreation (PLNR) Trail. Universally accessible viewing from parking area and Pinecrest Fish Pier. | ||
| Site Notes: | To make camping reservations 877-444-6777 Eco Trail Map available at Pinecrest Kiosk Booth at the campground. For more information, visit: www.sierranevadageotourism.org | ||
| Nearby Viewing Sites: | Yosemite National Park | ||
| Visitor Information: | Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau - 800-446-1333 or 209-533-4420 - http://www.visittuolumne.com | ||
| Viewing Site Hours of Operation are: | |||
| Staff On-site: | Yes | ||
| Open: | Everday | ||
| Hours: | 8:30am to 4pm varies seasonally | ||
| Year Round: | Yes | ||
| Road Information: |  Paved. | ||
| Road Hazards: Road closures occur in heavy winter storms but roads are always plowed to access Dodge Ridge. | |||
 Number of Parking Spaces: 250 | |||
| Parking Fee: No | |||
| Proximity to viewing area: | |||
 Pull-Through Parking: Yes | |||
| Parking Notes: Day use parking area in the process of being redesigned. Watch for pedestrians especially on weekends. | |||
| Special Tips: | This site can be accessed by passenger car; Fish available include: Trout; Types of fishing available include: Wade, Shore, Motorized boat, Float tube, Fly, Spin, Bait; ADA Accessible fishing access with fishing pier and boat launch. | ||
| How to Get There: | From Sonora, take Highway 108 east 30 miles. Turn right on Pinecrest Lake Road (at ranger station). Drive about 0.75 mile, turn right and continue about 0.5 mile around south shore to end-of-road parking and PLNR Trailhead. | ||
| Contact Information | |||
| Managing Agency: | USDA Foerst Service - Summit Ranger District | ||
| Agency Site URL: | http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/stanislaus/recarea/?recid=15095 | ||
| Physical Address: | #1 Pinecrest Lake Road Pinecrest, CA 95364 |
Agency 2: | Sonora, CA 95370 |
| Manager Phone: | (209) 532-3671 - Stanislaus Headquarters | ||
| Site Phone: | (209) 965-3434 - Summit | ||
| County: | Tuolumne | ||
| Addition Website: | https://www.recreation.gov/unifSearchResults.do | ||