Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail

The trailhead is located at the end of Pinecrest Lake Rd. Parking is free for day use. The trail is well traveled and marked well. The first mile follows the south east shore of the lake. You'll pass several homes only accessible by watercraft as you hike along the side of the lake. As you begin the climb up to the top end of the lake, you'll ascend a set of metal stair cases. On the far side of the lake, the trail splits. Stay left to complete the lake loop. There is a sign that clearly points you in the correct direction. The path to the right leads up to the Cleo's Bath swimming hole. Continuing on the path, you'll hike over a series of granite slabs. Look for trail markers embedded into the granite to help you stay on track. After about 2.6 miles, you'll hike across the Pinecrest Lake dam. The path is paved and easy to navigate. From here, the trail climbs back up to overlook the lake. There are several excellent vistas on this portion of the trail. The hike ends back at the day use area.