Pinecrest, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pinecrest, California
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 Pinecrest, California
Location in California
Pinecrest, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Tuolumne |
| Elevation | 5,679 ft (1,731 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 209 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1659782 |
Pinecrest is a small community in California, United States. It is located in the beautiful Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County. Pinecrest is especially known for its lovely Pinecrest Lake. This lake is found northeast of Mi-Wuk Village.
Pinecrest Lake used to be a flat meadow surrounded by large granite rocks. It was first called Strawberry Flat. This was because many wild strawberries grew there. In the 1960s, its name was officially changed to Pinecrest. The community here has special homes called USFS Recreation Residences. These homes are allowed by the United States Forest Service. Next to the lake, there is a campground. It is shaded by tall white fir, cedar, and sugar pine trees.
Pinecrest Lake is part of a system of dams on the South Fork of the Stanislaus River. These dams were first built to move water. Water was sent through ditches and flumes to mining areas. Many parts of this old water system are still used today. They help provide water to the local area. Early builders used portable sawmills to cut trees into boards. They used these boards to build wooden flumes in the forest. The current dam at Pinecrest was once called Lower Strawberry Reservoir Dam. It was built to create electricity. Today, Pacific Gas and Electric Company manages its water.
Discovering Pinecrest's Past
Before the California Gold Rush in 1848, the first people to live in the Pinecrest area were the Me-Wuk Native Americans. Historians believe that Pinecrest was an important trading spot for them. Even today, you can find old grinding rocks in the forest. These rocks were used by the Me-Wuk at their campsites.
When the Gold Rush started, many new settlers arrived. Sadly, the Me-Wuk people faced unfair treatment and were forced from their homes. This caused their numbers to decrease. Over time, miners and settlers looked for new ways to make a living. Logging became a big industry in the area. This led to the growth of many towns in the foothills. Water was very important for these towns. Lakes like Pinecrest were created to supply water to them.
The U.S. Forest Service has a station near Pinecrest Lake. It is called the Summit Ranger District station. Pinecrest also has its own post office with the ZIP code 95364. This post office opened in 1917. It was briefly closed from 1921 to 1923.
Exploring Pinecrest's Location
Pinecrest is located high up in the central Sierra Nevada mountain range. It sits at an elevation of 5,679 feet. The community is about 77 miles east of Modesto. Modesto is the closest big city. San Francisco is about 165 miles to the east. Because it's in the Sierra Nevada, Pinecrest has many mountains and evergreen trees. Close by is the Dodge Ridge Ski Resort. Many people from Northern California visit this resort during the snowy winter season. Pinecrest Lake is also a popular spot.
Pinecrest Weather and Seasons
Pinecrest has a special type of weather called a dry-summer continental climate. This means it has warm, dry summers. Sometimes, there are thunderstorms in the summer. The winters are cold and get a lot of snow.
