itOpened Guides · Stanislaus National Forest
How to actually get a site at Pinecrest — the verified facts, the release reality, and the cancellation route in.
Watch it with itOpened
Proof, from our own scanners: 673 confirmed openings across 34 campgrounds since Oct 29, 2026 — each one re-verified before logging. See the live cancellation index.
Watch PinecrestFree to start. We never book, hold, or resell — you book it yourself, in your own account, at the normal price. Fees pay for monitoring; openings are first-come and cannot be guaranteed.
Overview Pinecrest features a large campground by Pinecrest Lake, just 30 miles east of Sonora, at an elevation of 5600 feet. The area includes a day-use beach and a marina, a small shopping center and recreation cabins. The campground caters to all ages and is within walking distance of the lake, an amphitheater, visitor center, swimming beach and spectacular hiking trails. Pets are welcome, but must be compliant with Tuolumne County leash laws. Recreation The Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail takes hikers on an easy 4-mile stroll around Pinecrest Lake. Rainbow trout is a common catch in the lake and swimming is enjoyed at the sandy beach.
| Total sites | 196 |
|---|---|
| Site types | Standard |
| Site mix (directory count) | Standard 196 |
| Area | Stanislaus National Forest |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service |
| Nearest community | PINECREST, CA |
| Activities | Biking, Boating, Camping, Day Use Area, Disc Golf, Evening Programs, Fishing, Hiking, Historic & Cultural Site, Horseback Riding, Interpretive Programs, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Ranger Station, Swimming, Swimming Site, |
| Directory phone | 209-965-3116 |
| Official listing | Recreation.gov campground page |
| Book through | Recreation.gov |
Pinecrest is reserved through Recreation.gov, on the release pattern stated in its official listing. In demand, reservable sites are claimed within minutes of each release — which is why the campground reads as sold out for most of the year, and why the realistic route in is rarely the release itself.
Sites booked months ahead get cancelled as trips fall through, and each cancellation returns its nights to the official calendar instantly — first-come, no waitlist, no announcement. itOpened scans the Recreation.gov calendar for Pinecrest around the clock; when a site matching your dates and vehicle opens, you get a text with a direct link, and you book it yourself, in your own account, at the normal price. We never book, hold, or resell. The mechanics are the same ones documented in how campsite cancellations actually work.
Watch more than one calendar. These nearby or same-area campgrounds take the same trip — and their cancellations are independent chances:
| Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest) | 137 sites · same area |
|---|---|
| Meadowview Campground | 100 sites · same area |
| New Spicer Meadows | 57 sites · same area |
| Cherry Valley | 45 sites · same area |
| (Lake Alpine) Pine Marten | 32 sites · same area |
Full directory facts and sibling campgrounds: Pinecrest campground page · Stanislaus National Forest park page.
Watch it with itOpened
Proof, from our own scanners: 673 confirmed openings across 34 campgrounds since Oct 29, 2026 — each one re-verified before logging. See the live cancellation index.
Watch PinecrestFree to start. We never book, hold, or resell — you book it yourself, in your own account, at the normal price. Fees pay for monitoring; openings are first-come and cannot be guaranteed.
Every figure in this article traces to one of the sources above. If a number isn't sourced, we don't print it.
Last updated 2026-10-30.