Welcome to the Pinecrest Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Network Website.
NEW on-line MAP with several trails and routes: November 2020!
We have started to map the XC Ski and Snowshoe trails using an on-line mapping tool. Bring this up on your phone and it will even geolocate your position on the map respect the trails. We are just starting to add trails to this map. Please send any GPX files to us and we can add your favorite XC ski or Snowshoe trip this map.
- New on-line map and tools to help find your XC ski and Snowshoe trails.
- Click here to view new on-line map
Or Download this geospacial PDF map into Avenza on your phone
We also created this double sided, printable 11×19 inch foldable map. There are two PDF’s below that can be downloaded and printed at your local copy/print facility.
Click on the links below and download to view to print. There is a front page and back page to this document:
PinecrestXCSnowshoeNov2020-3 (front page)
XCSkisnowshoebackpage2020 (back page).
These two document make for a nice folding. 2 sided map for winter XC/Snowshoe in the area.
MISSION: To form a loosely organized volunteer group of Pinecrest area winter snow users to develop a FREE, recreational, transportation network of cross country ski trails and snow shoe paths off of the plowed roads but with connections across the plowed roads in the Pinecrest Region of California. This network of cross country ski trails and snowshoe paths will provide new recreational opportunities and open up new social and community related events enhancing winter time recreation for cabin overs, resort guests and day users in the Pinecrest area.
Initially there will be 4 general areas of trails:
- Pinecrest Cabin/Lake area
- Connections to Strawberry and Strawberry Trails
- Crabtree /Experimental Forest Road (South of Dodge Ridge Rd)
Snowshoe options: Generally snowshoes can go almost anywhere you can walk/hike on when there is no snow on the ground offering many options! It is probably not necessary that snowshoe’er stick to XC ski trails since you can generally hike on any trail in the Pinecrest area that you can walk in the summer. You can’t XC ski on every trail you hike on the during the summer. One example might be the Pinecrest Lake Recreation trail (4 Miles) around the lake. This is very possibly with snowshoes but basically impossible with XC skis. Please see the special page about snowshoeing on this website.
Other local XC ski and snowshoe trails
There are two other areas that are within a short driving distance from Pinecrest for skiing and snowshoeing.
Dodge Ridge Area trails:
There already exists a marked set of XC ski trails near Dodge Ridge at the Crabtree and Gooseberry Rd trail heads. We invite you review these trail options as well at the Pinecrest Nortic Ski Website map.
Herring Creek:
This is an excellent area for beginners. Please view the other maps on this site for more information. It is located about 3 miles east of Pinecrest on hwy 108. Parking at Hwy 108 and Herring Creek Rd entrance at gate.
More details are provided for longer trails.
- Cross Country Skiing at Pinecrest, CA
Pinecrest Cross Country & Snowshoe Network 
Is there snow around the lake currently? We have a trip planned tomorrow. We were planning to ski but that is no longer an option. Wondering if we should get snow shoes to walk around the lake (staying at Pinecrest) or if we’ll be fine in just our hiking boots…
I suspect your hiking boots will be fine as even dodge is not open and they are 2000 feet higher.
You will run into ice on the south side of the lake along the trail even if there is no snow since snow melts and freezes there and stays cold for the much of the day.
Looking to join a snow shoe group.
Is this site still active. How do we get involved?
hi Tim,yes.. there are some xc skiers and snowshoe types and we like to get together and document great places to go in this area. How would you like to contribute. Maybe review our contact page and connect with me directly and we can figure a way you can contribute to the effort!
Hi,
I was more less every year for last ten years at Pinecrest. Usually, dodge ridge rentals made cross country trails but last year there were no made trails for entire season until very small area in the end. I did it myself… Please advice if there are cross country trails now. Thanks, Mike
most of the XC trails around dodge and pinecrest are made by XC skiers before you. Since they have no fee structure to charge for groomed trails, we have to make trails ourselves and then others use those trails. I was up around the 30th and there were trails on Gooseberry and I’m sure crabtree had trails too. Just expect to break trail after a storm and bring lots of friends to help you out!
Hello! I’m hoping to show shoe around Pinecrest next week – first week of Februrary – is that still possible? Thanks in advance for a reply!
Hi, would love to hear about anyone’s recent experience on these trails. Looks like a very cool app.
Hi Camille- I was XC skiing the Experimental Rd and Crabtree loop about a week ago. Plenty of snow and no was out there! Slow as pretty firm as we had some rain and then it froze a bit making for almost skate friendly skiing but skating isn’t an option in Pinecrest area as we don’t groom the trails here.
Is this group still active?
Yes.. this group is sort of active and we always encourage others to participate and create events and connect with others.
Hi I’m excited to XC in the area. Does anyone know if the trails are currently groomed, or how I might find out if they are?
Also, I am looking for someone that may offer a lesson. I’ve done it a couple of times but feel I’m missing some pro tips.
Trails in the Pinecrest area are NOT groomed and you typically need to break your own trail or follow in tracks from previous XC skiers. So bring your friends and family to help you break new trails in the routes.
Check with the person that I cced to you last message.