Stanislaus National Forest

News Release

USDA Forest Service
Stanislaus National Forest

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.