Pinecrest Campground

The people at Pinecrest were so very nice. I hurt my back the day I was to leave for June Lake, which was Heartbreaking for me, as it is an annual party, and chance to get together with my brothers, and friends, and spend a week in the Loop, Mary, Crowley, ect. Upon cancelling, they offered to put my deposit toward a future stay with them, when my back healed, rather than get pissed, and gouge me for every penny, which they easily could have. It is a great campground, as I stayed there with friends on one of our trip, location is great, and now, with this experience, I’m sold on them every year I come up.

Just awesome! Outdoor movie theater. Lake. Pontoon rentals. Store and restaurant within walking distance!

This is a great campground if you’re a fan of well populated areas with plenty of amenities and lots of casual recreation. The lake a large and pleasant, there’s a lot of «beach» though it’s fairly rocky and the presence of a general store, sporting goods store and a restaurant makes it an easy place to stay since anything you forget can be easily purchased within walking distance. The scenery is beautiful and access is very simple. There’s a nice, mostly flat trail all the way around the lake which is a mild 2 to 3 hour walk. Bring water and food, but I saw people making this «hike» in sandals, it’s quite pleasant.
If you’re looking for peaceful seclusion, this is NOT the place to be. The campground is very large and *very* full. From what I’ve read during the peak season it’s full 24/​7, when we went (middle of october) it was absolutely packed on Saturday and Sunday, then mostly empty on Monday. And when I say packed I mean PACKED. There were many huge groups and every campsite had at least 4 people in it, ours was the exception with only two. There’s loud music, cigar smoking, drunken revelry, all-​in-​all this is the antithesis of a relaxing getaway. The day use area near the lake, much like the campground itself, is swarming with people all day long. Tons of dogs and it seemed like there was a roughly ³⁄₁ kid-​to-​adult ratio. The campsites are in no way at all private, you’re basically sharing your campsite with the people on either side of you as well as the fairly constant stream of adults and kids traipsing happily through your site to get to the bathroom/​lake/​friends etc.
As others have mentioned, there are showers but they’re ridiculously expensive ($ 5) and inconveniently located away from the campground.
We had a good time but overall this was not the kind of camping I enjoy. I like to have a little peace and quiet to contemplate the trees and birds, this was more like being at Disneyland with campfires. And speaking of campfires, a review here suggested that the smoke at this campground made it something like being in a warzone. I dismissed this as hyperbole, I’ve been to dozens of campgrounds and never had that experience. I was wrong. Starting at about 3pm and going until midnight this campground is defined by a layer of smoke that starts at your knees and ends about 20 feet over your head. It really does look a bit like a warzone, if you didn’t know better you’d think there was a forest fire happening. Somehow it didn’t bother me much, but it was definitely there.
If you’re looking for a busy place where your kids can roam free and meet tons of other fun-​seeking children and their parents you’ll love it here. If you’re looking for some seclusion and tranquility amongst the wooded mountains, this is not your spot.

Camping is always a ton of fun. It’s helpful if you’re prepared. When we camped here in 2013, it was in early May and it was cooler than we had expected it to be. At night, the temperatures dropped pretty low (40s), and my entire camping party were freezing in their tents. The hubby and I were as snug as a bug in a rug in our Grizzly double sleeping bag. It’s a pain in the arse to pack and load because it’s so bulky but it was definitely worth it once darkness fell. Cuz sleeping in the cold sucks.
There were LOTS of families with young kids. Most of them hung out at the lake all day. Our initial plan for the trip was to rent a pontoon but since it was so brisk during the daytime, we didn’t even bother, lol. But the lake was gorgeous and so blue. The boys went fishing a few times and caught a couple fish out by the dam, so I guess there are some out there. Not quite sure how the levels of the lake are now, since this review is 2 years overdue.

We love camping in the Redwood and Sequoia trees but Pinecrest was an exception. We stayed there for the Labor Day weekend and we loved every moment. Our site number was C2 and it was very spacious but we slept on a slope. We have a 6 persons dome tent and there was nowhere else to park it. Don’t get C2 as there’s really no flat ground for your tent. It was a cancellation so we didn’t have a choice. We were lucky we got in!
The campground was extremely nice and shockingly quiet for the long weekend. There are restaurants, a general store and another store where you can buy your swimming and fishing stuff all in close proximity to the campground. Firewoods are $ 7.51 a bundle.
Pinecrest Lake is absolutely beautiful and clean. You can buy food right at the lake or have a BBQ onsite. We rented a party boat one day and a motor boat the next day. The boat was nice to have as you can drive away from shore to avoid the heavy crowds.
The reason I’m giving this place 4 stars and not 5 is because the shower is quite horrific. It’s $ 5 for 12 minutes. Tokens only which you can get at the general store. You have to use up all $ 5! My family spent a total of $ 20 for our showers for the duration of our stay. It’s a must to shower if you’ve been in the lake. Oh, if you’re closetphobic l you wouldn’t do well in the showers. The stalls are very small. Other than the shower, this place would’ve gotten 5 stars from me.
Pinecrest campground should be on your bucket list!
AND…Don’t forget to bring warm clothes and a heavy jacket for balmy evenings. It will drop down to the low 40s! Pack your beanie and gloves, too! You’ll appreciate them ^_^

If your bring a trailer over 20 ft, the roads in campground are really narrow and very difficult to get around. There are trees in the way and you will hit them. They need to chop down trees near roadway. Some campsites are really difficult to put trailers and RV’S in. Before choosing a campsite on line, take a scouting trip and check
out sites you’ll save yourself some grief. Ariel campground so that is to be upgraded,

The campground has a lot of things to do and explore.
Each camp site has a asphalt drive way, a picnic table and fire pit. The toilets are flush and there is a sink for water and dishes next to the bathrooms.
Reservation is a must, if you plan to camp outdoors in the summer.
There are many places to explore around the campgrounds: restaurant, general store, art gallery, lake and trails.
A bike is very useful, if you can bring it by car.
There are no black bears around the campgrounds.

The only campground for our family… that is of course if we are lucky enough to nab a spot. This is a very popular place to camp and folks tend to «overbook» a window that they may want to camp in if they’re not sure of the dates they may be able to go… which is why the website has it booked fully and when you go there are many vacant sites that have been reserved and paid for… totally bad manners on people’s part… this is why the saying «I hate people» was penned. That should really be addressed but it seems that the park’s stance is as long as they get paid they could care
if that person is you slap yourself for me.
That said this campground has it all … big sites that can accommodate 3 tents easily and two cars in the driveway no problem. The general store has pretty much everything you need that you forgot or ran out of including decent bottles of booze and wine. There’s a post office, restaurant and post office… and a small tackle shop that has everything you need to fish or be out on the water. The food at the restaurant the «Steam Donkey» is not bad at all… good steak there.
The lake is great. We rent a party boat every year and putt over to the far side of the lake with cooler, small grill, hot dogs/​etc. and spend the day just chilling out jumping off the rock ledges on the other side… some close to 30 feet high !! The trout fishing is always good as the lake is well stocked in early June. We also LOVE the trail around the lake that takes around 2 hours to complete… definitely a mid level hike so bring water, power bars (beer …shhhhh) and enjoy !
There is a amphitheater that plays first run family movies at night… love that. Just head down there with the kids, blankets, flashlight, chairs (bench seats are’nt that comfy), bottle of wine or some beers and snacks and enjoy the movie ! There is a snack bar there as well.
What else can I say ?! You will love Pinecrest… if you can score a sight! Oh… there are also property rentals here… almost forgot ! I think you can find them on Pinecrest’s site. Get here !

I have camping at Pinecrest since I was born and both my parents have been camping there since they were kids. This place isn’t just a campground it’s years and years of wonderful memories. Coming back every year is like coming back home.
It is definitely a family campground but I don’t have kids and we always have a great time. It’s great to relax and if you want to explore the surrounding area it has beautiful, secluded areas that are awesome for hiking or day trips.
The only complaint is in the past years trying to get reservations (and you have to have reservations or you will be turned away) is harder than getting back stage passes to a Rolling Stones concert. We have to book 6 months in advance and even then you rarely get a spot because they go so fast and if you do get a spot it’s terrible. I miss the days of first come first serve.
I love going here but it’s almost becoming impossible to get in! Love you P-​Crest but you should really make it a lot easier for people to come and enjoy.

We stayed here Sun-​Wed for our first ever RV camping trip and first camping adventure for our three young kids. The weather was not at all ideal. It rained Sunday evening, all day Monday, and on and off on Tuesday. It made our first family camping experience much different than I had invisioned. Rain and all, we still walked around the campsites with our kids on their bikes and our dog. We fished a little and even caught a 10″ Rainbow Trout that we released. The staff was friendly and very accomadating. We had to change sites because our original site (in the A loop) was angled directly across from another site that a fifth wheel trailer attached to its truck was at, and with our crew cab, long bed truck and 28′ trailer there was no way to get into our spot without smashing the front end of that truck and ours. Anyway, we chose to stay in the D loop closest to the lake and movies under the stars and were very happy. The kids loved riding their bikes and we loved being so close to the lake. This is a great place for families. Everyone seemed to respect the 10 pm quiet time rules and the staff didn’t harass at all about it like some places do. We loved it and can’t wait to go back on a warm day! Five stars if weather was better so we could fully explore the grounds.

Love love love camping! As long as there are warm showers easily accessible and actual toilets I can sit on… i’m good! *This girl does not dig holes!!* Lol!
Pinecrest has been my home away from home during summer months year after year. My daughters and I have been camping here… just the 3 of us… since they were 2 & 3 years old! Their dad is not the type to get dirty (Hello! I know you’re reading this!) so we would leave his ass at home and enjoy the beauty of nature without him!
There are 5 different sections… a, b, c, d & e and honestly 95% of the sites are great! We do have our favorites (no, i’m not telling you so you can beat me to them!) but would not hesitate to grab any available site since they do book up pretty fast!
All sites have a picnic table and fire ring and most sites are pretty spacious with some being a little bigger than others.
The restrooms are cleaned daily in the mornings so that’s a good thing! Some have lights & outlets & others do not so be sure to take a flashlight in the evenings. Each restroom also has a little sink outside for washing dishes which comes in very handy!
Our stays have always been pleasant and we’ve never had any problems with theft or obnoxious & loud, out of control people. I think the most annoying thing is being the unfortunate neighbor of ‘fake’ campers in RVs lol who run their generator all day and all night which can sometimes interrupt my mid day nap! ;)
The price to camp here has increased steadily over the years and is now at $ 21.00/night. For the opportunity to take in natures beauty & make lasting memories with my baby girls it’s a small price to pay so no complaints here.
If you plan on camping for more than a couple nights I strongly suggest booking in advance online otherwise you may be disappointed once you show up and they tell you to go kick rocks!
Now go get dirty! No girl likes a sissy la la! :)

We stayed at site A57 and it was further away from the lake but close to the store. The bathroom was close by and did have electricity. Our site had shade over the picnic bench and most of the site. I loved that our area was a bit more private than others because we were partially hidden by the greenery. This being our first camping trip, we had a great time. It was very quiet at night and we heard the ranger driving around so we felt very safe. We rented a motor boat and the lake is much bigger than it appears from the beach. Next time we will be parking the boat at the other end of the lake where the water appears to be cleaner and swim there. I didn’t really like watching everybody blow their nose in the lake water at the beach side… yuck. It was very crowded for a Thursday to our surprise. That’s the only downside, all the people. But overall, it was nice. We will be returning.

Great for families. Pass for adults.
Let’s start with the good. This lake is gorgeous with lots to do as far as paddle boats, hikes, water activities as well as every amenity you can think of. It’s also dog friendly along the left side of the beach past the marina. A definite plus.
The bad… well, this place was obviously great for families for all the reasons above and for those reasons, it was like camping on a elementary school playground. It wasn’t exactly the quiet and serene experience that many people look forward to when they go camping. We had the baby crying all hours of the day and night, children screaming at the crack of dawn, and the constant sound of car alarms.
Cal’s Lair of the Bear Alumni camp is across the meadow and they like to shout on their megaphones first thing in the morning to get their activities going so if you were thinking maybe it’d be quieter during the week than the weekend, not really.
A suggestion would be that if you’d like to enjoy the lake but don’t want to encounter what we did, go up the road to other campgrounds that are first come/​first serve to possibly avoid some of the crowd. Yes, it is a longer drive to get to the lake but it’s probably well worth it.

I have loved going to Pinecrest and this last time we camped in the D loop which is probably the best location for their camping. However, and I am not a persnickety camper, but in spite of the great times had here, there are a few things that make it really tough to stay at. The pros are obvious — the beautiful lake, the access to last minute items and of course movies at night.
The cons — the place is packed to the gills and everyone is running fires from 3 pm to midnight. You think you’re going to the great outdoors to get fresh clean air, right? Wrong! You get to breathe in peoples’ smoke all night. Black boogers and asthma is all I can say. It really is not fresh air… i feel like i’ve been working in the mines when I come back from pinecrest. I love a nice fire like the next guy but this place never gets a break, people move in and out of the sites all summer long and everyone is making fires. You have to escape to the beach to get some fresh air. The camping experience would be so much better without all the smoke. It feels like the aftermath of a war when you walk through the campgrounds. The constant fire making leads to the campground dirt being utterly filled with soot. Our children couldn’t even sit or kneel on the ground because their clothes would go totally black. The soot deposits out of the air onto the ground. It’s really bad! I don’t think it’s quite this bad at other campgrounds because there spots are spaced out more and people aren’t as hard up to have a camp fire. I mean you see families with stockpiles of wood who have reserved that site for a whole month and they’re just burning wood day after day just to sit around it and talk. I feel like we’ve gone so far as to institute recycling and water conservation… the next step is make people get a license to have a fire or limit how many people can have…
The other con is you’ll be in your tent wanting some peace and quiet and instead you feel like you’re camped out on Main Street downtown. It’s just one big rig sounding truck or trailer after another. Not a minute goes by where you’ll not hear a truck whiz by your site. I mean, it’s a little much! Seriously from 10 am until 7 pm you will hear one pickup or trailer after another drive around your loop. I’m not sure if it’s people trying to find free parking or what, but it is not peace with nature. I would probably only go back here if I could get a site during the week. The weekends are tough because of all the people wanting to party. It’s not relaxing…
Also, the bathrooms do not have light or showers. You have to go to a trailer by the general store that is due for a renovation. It is pretty gross in there. If youre just there for the weekend, just go without and wait til you get home… do the double undie thing and baby powder in the hair and you’ll feel fine…
Other than that, the movies at night are great, the lake is beautiful!

This is a great place to go GLAMping. They have it all — a little grocery store with all the necessities, a lake with tube & boat rentals, and even a bar/​restaurant.
I came here with a group of 8 and we got 2 sites right next to each other (A37 & A38). They ended up being in the middle of a bunch of sites, but we situated our tents in a way that blocked most other campers out. Even though online it said we needed two spots, which we did pay for, we loaded into one cause it was so huge.
We rented a pontoon/​party boat for all of us and went fishing for half the day Saturday. This is a must do. We brought our lunches out and they have a umbrella cover that you can cover half the boat with if its too hot, which is a nice amenity. Going out on it was amazing, and you really get to see the whole lake this way. No, we didn’t catch any fish :(
CONS: The campsites are pretty open and I didn’t see many that were secluded. The bathrooms near us didn’t have a light, so at night you had to balance a flashlight in there to see anything. The second night we got smart and went the other direction to a different bathroom that had a light and was much bigger. Weird that some do and some don’t… Also, if you decide to shower note that they are in trailers, which I have no idea how they do that. ($ 5)
Overall, a really fun place to go camping if you want all the necessities just a couple minutes away in the car.

This is as good as it gets folks. You have plenty of camp sites, clean bathrooms, a general store, an outside movie theatre, a clean lake with boat rentals, and decent weather. We’ve been coming here for the past 9 years and we don’t want to go anywhere else. We usually stay in Meadowview which is close to Pinecrest. There’s a couple campgrounds close to the Pinecrest lake: dodge ridge, meadowview, strawberry hill. I like meadowview because it’s first come first serve and we have never not found a spot even when we came labor day weekend last year. Pinecrest gets full very fast and you have to make a reservation 6 months in advance.

I’m really a fan of Pinecrest. The diverse camp groups that show up unexpected like the Japanese group that constructed a stage with spotlights and sang, «Home on the Range» in Japanese to lull us to sleep. Or the young Asian couple that kept their light on whilst doing the unmentionable-​I just couldn’t look away, or the way everyone is looking for my brother every darn Saturday night. They call for Elmer for hours on end, it’s a tradition of sorts. (just so happens my bro’s name is Elmer). Or how about having a brewski at the local restaurant or watching a movie out under the stars at the theater or hiking on the trail that takes in a better portion of the shore, the dam and beyond. I have many fond memories of camping at Pinecrest with my husband and my friends Dave, Susan and Chaos (that’s their dog) I think you too will find some memories to savor at Pinecrest!

I’ve been coming here for the last 16 years of my life. Cant say enough good things. Its a beautiful campsite with plenty of trees. Pet Friendly on leash. Each site has a fire ring, picnic bench to eat on, and bathsrooms (no shower) close by. The best part though is Pinecrest Lake. The view is awesome and just relaxing to look at. Go for a swim, or get catch some rays on the beach. There is also a conveinence store really close if you forgot anything including firewood. They sell booze/​beer, and just about everything else you need. There is even a restaurant/​bar for burgers and other lite fair. I’ve stayed at various sites, and never had a problem with privacy. They are all pretty awesome.

The Four Seasons of campgrounds.
200 sites of love.