Pinecrest
Pinecrest Campground is located right next to Pinecrest Lake, which means the area caters to an array of summer watersports in addition to the more typical offerings like hiking and nature-spotting. Typical dog rules apply in Pinecrest, so as long as you've brought baggies and a leash your canine should be welcomed here without issue.
Guests looking to hike will enjoy the Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail. This four-mile jaunt takes visitors around the lake of the same name, showcasing the beautiful forest scenery that surrounds the shore. It's a fairly sedate journey, which means less-abled guests should have no problem traversing its subtle twists and turns that provide several views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains. Before setting out for a loop, make sure to check out the trail map that's available at the Pinecrest website. Canine owners can feel free to bring their companions along, provided they're kept on a leash and guests pick up any debris that might be dropped on the ground.
Pinecrest campers can choose from any of the 195 total sites contained within. These sites all offer a paved parking pad in addition to fire rings and picnic tables. Drinking water can be found just outside of the multiple public restrooms found in several convenient areas throughout the campground. No electrical hookups or dump stations are available, so guests coming in recreational vehicles will have to be self-contained. Dogs are welcome to spend the evening as long as they're kept inside of guests' tents and are kept out of all public restroom areas. The costs reflected above are for entrance to the Pinecrest Campground only and do not reflect entrance costs to the surrounding Stanislaus National Forest.
A small, unstaffed sandy beach is regularly maintained by Pinecrest and is open throughout the warmer months. As this is generally unmanned, guests looking to splash around do so at their own risk. If you've got Fido along, make sure they steer clear of the public swimming waters and stay on a leash.
