Pinecrest Reservoir was a jewel then, and is now
Situated at 5,600 feet in elevation, Pinecrest Reservoir is an area of striking natural beauty. By the mid-1920s, the Forest Service had developed a small campground near the man-made lake.
Despite being primitive, the reservoir was popular with campers and their tents. Campers strung ropes from trees and hung blankets to create some privacy. Families came year after year to enjoy fishing, swimming and boating at the mountain lake.
The reservoir was an affordable summer vacation spot during the Great Depression. Visitors from the central San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area filled the campgrounds every summer.
In 1937, the Fourth of July was on a Sunday, and some 7,000 visitors came to the lake. By the mid-1940s, the summer population had exploded to about 5,000 visitors.
There were 354 summer homes in the area by 1940. Pinecrest cabin owners continue to enjoy a community of people who love the mountains and come for the summer to enjoy the lake and the weather.
Over the years, Pinecrest has grown in popularity and remains a jewel of Sonora Pass.