Pick a unit on the map to see its reservation calendar.
No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Pinecrest Day Use Area continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 549 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 544 open for online reservation · 5 reserved.
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 312 fall on weekdays and 232 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
October holds the most room. 93 of 93 reservation dates are still open there.
| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 3 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 3 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 3 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 3 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 3 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 3 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 3 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date. Thanksgiving: 3 day-use units are available for all three dates. Christmas: 3 day-use units are available for both dates. New Year: 3 day-use units are available for both dates.
| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Cedar | 182 |
| Fir | 181 |
| Pine | 181 |
The 3 day-use units with the most open reservation dates in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
The next bookable date is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar | 182 | 181 dates | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +170 more |
| Fir | 181 | 180 dates | Sep 18, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +169 more |
| Pine | 181 | 180 dates | Sep 18, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +169 more |
Pinecrest Lake is located 40 minutes east of Sonora, California, and is within a 3-hour drive from major metropolitan areas including San Francisco, Sacramento and many valley cities. The lake is located at 5,600 feet elevation and provides cool summer relief, spectacular scenery, and lake shore beaches for relaxing, swimming and picnics.
Pinecrest Lake is popular for swimming, hiking, kayaking, fishing and sailing (small boats). A nearby resort offers boat rentals, lodging and groceries. Movies and interpretive programs are provided in the evenings at the amphitheater, also located in the day use area. Two campgrounds within the Pinecrest Basin offer opportunities at nearly 300 campsites within one mile from the Pinecrest Day Use Area. *Outdoor movie showings and interpretive programs typically end for the season by mid-October due to weather. Please check for availability.
Group use sites are fully accessible and provide group size pedestal grills, food storage boxes, group picnic tables and food prep table. Water hydrants and recycle and garbage cans are also located within the sites. Flush toilets are located nearby.
* Water hydrants are not available during the winter months due to freezing. ** Group sites may be under snow during winter months. Please plan accordingly as accessibility may be limited after heavy snowfall.
The day use area is surrounded by mixed conifer, providing shade during warm summer days. The group picnic sites are located within sight of the lake offering easy access to the lake, beach and hiking trails.
The Pinecrest National Recreation Trail traverses Pinecrest Lake for an easy four mile hike. Numerous opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating and lake play are within 100 feet from each group use picnic site.
Pinecrest Day Use area is located approximately 35 miles east of Sonora, CA on Highway 108. The day use area is located on Pinecrest Lake Road, 1 mile from the intersection with Highway 108.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗







Reservations for Pinecrest Day Use Area are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 544 of 549 tracked reservation dates are open (99.1%), though availability can change. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
October 2026, with 93 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 93.
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Choose the reservation dates you want at Pinecrest Day Use Area.
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.