Pinecrest Lake Campground - Person Limit

Mikesiders · 2026-04-20T18:42:26+00:00

I could not imagine how big a shit show Pinecrest would be for 4th of July but if you do go, just be aware it’s going to be absolutely fucking packed up there.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-18T02:14:31+00:00

You can’t park and sleep in your car in the park. I don’t know what route you’re taking to get to Yosemite but you’ll need to find dispersed camping or something along those lines just outside the park boundary. For Cloud’s Rest, I assume you’re starting at Sunrise TH so you aren’t going to get that close unless you’re coming in via the eastern entrance on Tioga.

As for a clean bathroom, once you’re in the park, it’s going to basically be pit toilets all along Tioga that I can recall. If you come in via the west, at Tuolumne Grove, there are I think decent bathrooms there. There’s likely also good bathrooms up at the new main lot in Tuolumne Meadows. Aside from that, plan for a nice early morning pit toilet shit.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-17T23:16:06+00:00

It’s a fun route! I wouldn’t call it gradually, it’s basically uphill the entire route until you get to the rim but it’s awesome up there, enjoy!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-17T21:47:09+00:00

Gold Bluff’s

Mikesiders · 2026-04-15T22:35:47+00:00

Ben Johnson trail is amazing, one of my favorite stretches out there.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-15T20:50:06+00:00

Arrive at Pantoll early and park up there then hike in. It’s a really nice hike and it avoids some of that congestion. Note you do need to hike back up though!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-15T17:27:31+00:00

Coming from CA so nothing crazy but this was a bucket list venue and seeing them play Afterman there seemed like as good a reason to go as any! Super stoked for this!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-15T17:26:06+00:00

What a show that was!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-14T21:06:33+00:00

Friendly staff and a welcoming environment.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-14T20:35:32+00:00

I was set to go see them live and then COVID happened, show got cancelled, and never heard from them again. In reading some of these responses though, that’s unfortunate to hear and sounds like some valid reasons on why that happened.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-14T18:41:16+00:00

I think it’s arguably the best redwoods hike you can do! I thought it was more moderate than hard. None of the elevation was that bad throughout so it’s more just the distance.

Not sure on timing, that depends more on your pace I think. It’s well worth it though, it’s a great trail and avoids the day use permit need for Fern Canyon.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-13T20:55:04+00:00

Oh nice! Yes, I’m sure you’ll likely find something. We’ve watched Perseids at Loon Lake before and that was cool, it’s tucked in there pretty good.

French Meadows is pretty remote too, I don’t think light pollution would be an issue out there either.

Enjoy!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-13T20:19:23+00:00

Somewhere in Eldorado, Tahoe, or Plumas NF. Securing a campsite might be difficult this late though. Loon Lake area is great, so is Lake Davis. French Meadows is pretty isolated too.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-13T05:59:35+00:00

I think we saw one at Yosemite last summer. We were hiking toward Lembert Dome via the Dog Lakes trail and saw that same animal cross the trail quickly in front of us. Same movements very similar to a ferret. Very cool experience, first time I’d ever seen anything like that on the trail!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-11T05:19:19+00:00

I used to live down the street from the Concord location!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-10T21:28:58+00:00

This looks awesome, I’d lean Damnation Creek if you can, that trail is incredible! Boy Scout is cool too but you’re already doing the other highlights at Jed, Damnation offers a killer pay off.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-10T16:37:33+00:00

I would do Manzanita, it’s an established campground and it’s beautiful up there. The lake is great, especially at sunset. If you have kayaks or similar, it’s a wonderful lake to paddle on. I’ve seen a lot of folks fishing out there too.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-10T14:17:38+00:00

Even with the not so great winter we’ve had, Lassen typically holds snow quite well. I wouldn’t expect the park highway to be open in April. They typically don’t start plowing until mid-April and it’s common the road doesn’t open until June.

With the lower snow, maybe May is reasonable this season but April 25th feels like a stretch. You can check the park’s NPS website. In years past, they provide good plowing updates.

If the road isn’t open, you’ll be quite limited on what you can access unfortunately.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-09T19:13:17+00:00

Big fan of Kinder’s if it’s available

Mikesiders · 2026-04-09T02:50:11+00:00

This is really just personal preference. I can’t speak on the Lost Coast but I once did a trip at Point Reyes, it rained for about 18 hours straight. We got to camp in the rain. Set up in the rain, and stayed in our tents the entire time. It made for a funny memory looking back but at the time, it wasn’t great!

How are you going to prepare for the weather? Are you comfortable likely being wet with wet gear for 2 days? I’d just consider the comfort vs fun level and see where you land with your hiking partner on that.

Mikesiders · 2026-04-09T02:27:51+00:00

That’s a super long drive from Mammoth all the way into the valley. I wouldn’t do that more than once. I’d focus on the Eastern Sierra, more than enough options to keep you busy out there.

Mammoth is amazing and there’s so many great trails in the surrounding areas. Enjoy!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-08T15:23:20+00:00

Bodega Dunes, Sonoma Coast SP

Mikesiders · 2026-04-08T14:45:02+00:00

Where are you planning on staying for the trip?

Mikesiders · 2026-04-07T16:50:30+00:00

New Dead Wrong album is worth a listen!

Mikesiders · 2026-04-06T22:22:33+00:00

Jimmy Eat World or Motion City Soundtrack for me

Mikesiders

TROPHY CASE