Pinecrest Campground

Just 10 minutes from Pinecrest Campground, the Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort runs chairlift-assisted downhill mountain biking in the summer and fall. Mountain bikers will also find a variety of Forest Service roads to shred off of Highway 108 both east and west of Pinecrest Lake.

The Pinecrest Lake Marina rents out kayaks, motorboats, sail boats, and row boats. Or you can BYO boat and spend your days bobbing on the tranquil alpine waters of Pinecrest Lake.

Pinecrest Lake is stocked with rainbow trout. A pier and boat launch are accessible from the campground. The nearby Stanislaus River is also a fly-fishing destination.

Starting just a few hundred feet from the campground, the Pinecrest National Recreation Trail takes you on a 4-mile shoreline lap of Pinecrest Lake. Folks seeking more challenging or secluded Sierra hikes can head into the Emigrant Wilderness. The Summit Ranger Station that you pass just before the Pinecrest Campground entrance has info on all Stanislaus National Forest trails and conditions, including the Emigrant section.

400 miles of horseback riding trails and plenty of horse-friendly base camps make Stanislaus the ideal adventure for you and your horse. If your horse is concerned about the high elevation (or if, and you can admit this to us, you are) you can stick to lower Highway 108 and Highway 120. For more horse-related info, check here.

If you have a paddle boat of any kind, you’ll want to bring it out while you’re here. Kayak or canoe through the Utica and Union reservoirs to reach some small islands and see some epic mountain scenery. Tuolumne River is also a popular rowin’ spot. It may be a bit crowded in summer, but it’s worth it for the awesome granite rocks and fresh flowing water. For other options, check here.

That’s right water babies, you can even windsurf here. Cherry Lake is the place to be for windsurfing, so if that’s your thing, be sure to check it out.

If you’ve been itching for some mind-blowing scenery to try out your new four-wheeler, this would be the place to do it. You can travel by road or by trail, depending on your preference. Black Springs is the main OHV area, with more than 100 miles of trails and roads for you to explore. If you want to go completely off-road, be sure to stay within 20 miles of signed trails and 100 miles of established roads. Other than that, Stanislaus is your O(HV)yster.

Pinecrest Lake is home to a sport climbing crag called the Pinecrest Lake Buttress. Additionally, climbers can find more crags and boulder problems along the Sonora Pass Highway. The Table Mountain region closer to Sonora has a high concentration of sport and trad climbing routes.

In the winter months, Stanislaus becomes a snowy wonderland (well, really, at high elevations, there’s snow for most of the year anyway). Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are the big ones here, mostly focused around the Highway 4 Corridor. You can even snowmobile on certain trails out here, if you’re itching to fly through powdery snow.

The refreshing waters of Lake Pinecrest will beckon you for a plunge on hot summer days. Beach 1 has a designated swim area separated from boat traffic by buoys.

If a relaxing dip or leisurely paddle isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, there are some rapids for you to conquer too. You can check out some serious whitewater rafting in the Stanislaus River, in both the North Fork and the South Fork of the river. Paddle through roaring rapids, between granite rock formations, towering mountains, and redwood trees. Sounds pretty epic, right?

Of course such a beautiful landscape is bound to be the home of equally awesome creatures. Bell Creek is a great place to chill with some critters. You can look for 60 different species of birds, and even a bunch of wildflowers in the spring time.