Dogs Prohibited
in the Pinecrest Day Use Area
Sonora, CA (July 22, 2008) ... The Forest Service today
announced that the Stanislaus National Forest will begin to issue violation
notices (tickets) to visitors who take their dogs within the Pinecrest day use
area. Dogs have been prohibited in the day use area from May 15 to September 15
beginning in 2004. The day use area lies between the Marina and the Fishing Pier
and from the road and the lake. This area is generally known as the picnic area
and includes the beaches and the amphitheater.
Since 2004, the Forest Service has provided educational information, given
warnings through personal contact, posted signs and stenciled walkways. Prior to
issuing violations the Forest Service will post additional signs to more clearly
delineate the boundary of the day use area.
With increased use at Pinecrest, there seems to be an increasing number of
dogs coming to the area. The need to issue tickets is unfortunate, but visitors
continue to bring their dogs to Pinecrest and conflicts continue to occur.
The Pinecrest Recreation Area is a popular recreation area located 30 miles
east of Sonora. On busy summer weekends there can be up to 10,000 visitors in
the Pinecrest area. One of the issues in the Pinecrest day use area has been the
presence of dogs. Some of the issues that have lead to restricting dogs in the
day use area range from dogs barking, dog waste on the beaches and in the picnic
area, and in some cases dog fights and dogs biting other visitors.
Dogs are allowed in all other areas within Pinecrest, but dog handlers must
comply with the Tuolumne County requirement to keep dogs on a leash at all times
while in public. In addition, dogs can not be left unattended in the Pinecrest
and Meadowview Campgrounds. For visitors who want to walk their dogs around the
lake, there is a designated dog walk trail along the south edge of the day use
area, next to Pinecrest Lake Drive. The dog walk connects the two trailheads
that access the trail around the lake where dogs are allowed. The dog walk is
marked with paw prints on the trail.
For more information on the rules within the Pinecrest Recreation Area,
visitors may call the Summit Ranger District at (209) 965-3434 or visit the
Pinecrest
Day Use Area webpage.
|