Location: Gold Country / High Sierra < California < USA
Located in the spectacular Sierra Nevada at an elevation of about 5,500 feet, the Pinecrest area offers summer swimming, boating and hiking and winter sledding and skiing at Dodge Ridge. The area's many nature hikes and drives include those to the Columns of the Giants geologic site, which covers the remains of a glacier from the last ice age, and the Bennet Tree, world's largest western juniper. Below in the foothills is the historic California gold country, highlighted by Columbia State Park, a restored goldrush town, and Jamestown's Railtown 1897. It's also fun to browse Jamestown's antique district. Yosemite National Park's Big Oak Flat entrance is a little over an hour away.
This beautiful and secluded area is a great choice for a family vacation.