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Pinecrest Lake

Strawberry, California — Tuolumne County.

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303Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 59566133).

Location & fast facts

Where Pinecrest Lake is in California

The red circle marks Pinecrest Lake.

Fast facts

About Pinecrest Lake

  • County: Tuolumne
  • Nearest city: Strawberry (about 0.5 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 86 mi from Sacramento and 101 mi from Fresno, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (California: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in California

Official CDFW pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Trout
  • Swimming. 3 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)
  • Camping. 35 campgrounds within 15 mi, 2 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official stocking data (California CDFW)

Stocked by the state: Trout (15 planting weeks, 2026-04 to 2026-08)

Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish Planting Locations [ds2897] (plants into Pinecrest Lake, Tuolumne County, past 12 months). See the CDFW fish planting schedule. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Pinecrest Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Pinecrest Lake Boat Launch (public) (Boat launch)1Beach 2 (Beach)2Beach 1 (Beach)3Pinecrest Dog Beach (Beach)4½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach
  1. 1Pinecrest Lake Boat Launch (public)
    Boat launch
  2. 2Beach 2
    Beach
  3. 3Beach 1
    Beach
  4. 4Pinecrest Dog Beach
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 59566133), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Pinecrest Lake

We found 35 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Pinecrest Lake, 14 of them within 5 miles. 2 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in California

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Pinecrest Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (38.1960, -119.9800). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Pinecrest Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Pinecrest Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in PT (America/Los_Angeles), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Pinecrest Lake Boat Launch (public)——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.1935, -119.9925

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 3 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Pinecrest Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Beach 2BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Beach 1BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Pinecrest Dog BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Pinecrest Lake

    How big is Pinecrest Lake?

    Pinecrest Lake covers about 303 acres in Strawberry, California (Tuolumne County).

    What fish are in Pinecrest Lake?

    CDFW fish planting records lists Trout.

    Is there a public boat launch on Pinecrest Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Pinecrest Lake Boat Launch (public). Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Pinecrest Lake?

    OpenStreetMap shows 3 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Pinecrest Lake?

    Yes. We list 35 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 14 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Pinecrest Lake?

    Pinecrest Lake touches Strawberry in Tuolumne County, California.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Pinecrest Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All California lakes & ponds · All waters in Strawberry