Connectivity
- VerizonLTESome coverageVerified by 2 campers · Oct 6, 2026
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Pioneer Trail
Stanislaus National Forest, California
About this campground
The campground is located within the Pinecrest Recreational Area just 2 miles from the lake, which beckons visitors with excellent fishing, boating, hiking and swimming opportunities.
Pioneer Trail Group Campground offers groups of up to 100 people the opportunity to camp near the beautiful Pinecrest Lake.
Pioneer Trail sits at an elevation of 5,600 feet, in a wooded area near the southwest side of the 300-acre Pinecrest Lake in Stanislaus National Forest.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 38.187500° N
- Longitude
- 119.987500° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
- Boat-in
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Group sites
- Standard campsites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Picnic table
- Drinking water
- Fires
- Firewood availableCommunity report
- Phone serviceCommunity report
- Trash serviceCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Parking
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 40 ft
- Sanitary dumpCommunity report
- Sewer hookupsCommunity report
- Water hookupsCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Pioneer Trail Group Campground offers groups of up to 100 people the opportunity to camp near the beautiful Pinecrest Lake. The campground is located within the Pinecrest Recreational Area just 2 miles from the lake, which beckons visitors with excellent fishing, boating, hiking and swimming opportunities.
In this spectacular mountain region, wildlife viewing opportunities include marmots, squirrels, coyotes and deer.
Facilities
Campsites 1 and 3 will accommodate up to 50 campers and Site 2 will accommodate up to 100 campers. Each site features a large campfire circle, picnic tables and vault toilets.
No RV hookups or electricity are available. Pay showers are within a few miles. Winter camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis. 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 in designated beach areas.
Natural Features
Pioneer Trail sits at an elevation of 5,600 feet, in a wooded area near the southwest side of the 300-acre Pinecrest Lake in Stanislaus National Forest.
Stanislaus National Forest is located in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains, between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. It boasts gorgeous views of snow-capped mountain peaks and California's Great Central Valley.
Nearby Attractions
The nearby Sonora Pass is a scenic winding highway that has guided people across the Sierra Nevada since 1852.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming SiteSwimming
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
- Boating
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- Picnic tables
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Group Standard Non-Electric
3 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 100
- Maximum vehicles
- 16
- Maximum vehicle length
- 40 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Has Taxes
- 1
- Max Transaction Reservations
- 3 reservations per transaction
- Reservation cutoff
- 3 days before arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 100 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 16 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Food storage
- Pioneer Trail's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Stanislaus National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Pioneer Trail's official facility record states: Each site features a large campfire circle, picnic tables and vault toilets.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Oct 19, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 7, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 7, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Oct 11, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2026 – Oct 19, 2026 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $133 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2026 – Oct 19, 2026 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $184 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2027 – Oct 11, 2027 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $133 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2027 – Oct 11, 2027 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $184 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2028 – Oct 19, 2028 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $133 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2028 – Oct 19, 2028 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $184 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- Pets are allowed, but not in day-use area
- Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis outside the reservation season
- For more information on Staunislaus National Forest, click here
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Sonora, California, take Highway 108 east for about 30 miles. Exit at Pinecrest Lake and turn right on Dodge Ridge Road. Continue 1 mile to Pioneer Trails Campground, located on the left.
Facility contact
209-965-3474