A private lake, five minutes down the hill.
Pine Mountain Lake is a 202-acre lake with six miles of shoreline inside a gated community. As our guests, you get the beaches, the pool, the trails and more.
Can I park at the Marina today?
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Three beaches to choose from
Marina Beach
~5 min from the house
The biggest beach, with the Marina Store for boat rentals, the seasonal Lakeside Café, grills and picnic tables. Parking is renter-friendly Monday to Friday. On weekends and holidays, use the water taxi.
Dunn Court Beach
~8 min from the house
Off Pleasantview Drive. A good place to park on weekends and catch the water taxi over to the Marina (it leaves at :45 past the hour).
Lake Lodge Beach
~12 min from the house
Has a playground. The water taxi stops here at :15 past the hour.
There are no lifeguards. Swim inside the marked areas. Everyone clears the water when fire helicopters are scooping from the lake, and it’s quite a sight.
Free boat rides between the beaches
From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 10am–6pm, a free water taxi loops the lake every hour. On weekends it’s the easy way to get to the Marina.
| Stop | Departs |
|---|---|
| Marina | :00 |
| Lake Lodge | :15 |
| Fisherman’s Cove | :30 |
| Dunn Court | :45 |
On the water by the hour
You can’t bring your own boat, but the Marina Store rents them from late May through Labor Day.
| Boat | 2026 rate |
|---|---|
| Single kayak or stand-up paddleboard | $35 / hr |
| Double kayak | $40 / hr |
| Pedal boat | $35 / hr |
| 6-person pedal cruiser | $60 / hr |
| Gas fishing boat | $45–65 / hr |
Marina Store: 209-962-8631. 2026 prices; they may change.
More to do inside the gates
Heated pool
On Mueller Drive above the Country Club. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, 8am–8pm. Bring your gate pass. From 10am to noon, guests need to be with a property owner.
Pickleball & tennis
Six pickleball courts and two tennis courts. Buy a court pass at the Main Gate (about $12/day for renters). Lights go off at 10pm.
Golf
An 18-hole William F. Bell course (par 70), open to the public at public rates. Carts are required before twilight, and there’s a dress code. Pro Shop: 209-962-8620.
The Grill & 19th Hole
The restaurant and lounge above the pro shop are open to everyone. Good for lunch with a fairway view. 209-962-8638.
Horseback riding
The Equestrian Center (Clements & Clifton Way) offers year-round lessons and seasonal trail rides. 8am–5pm, 209-962-8667.
Trails
Big Creek Trail (~2 mi round trip) runs on the grade of the old Hetch Hetchy Railroad, built to haul supplies for the dam. Rock Canyon is an easy 1.5-mile loop.
Fishing
You need a California fishing license (sold at the Marina Store and the Main Gate). Worms are the only live bait allowed. Fisherman’s Cove is the classic spot.
Fly in
Pilots can land at Groveland/Yosemite Airport (E45, formerly Pine Mountain Lake Airport), inside the community: 3,625 ft runway, CTAF 122.9. It’s about 18 minutes from the house.
The community rules in plain English
Pine Mountain Lake has its own rules for renters. None of them are hard to follow once you know them, so here’s the whole list.
Gate pass
We register you in advance. Stop at the Main Gate on arrival and pay the per-car access fee (about $50 per vehicle; the gate confirms the current rate).
Enter by the Main Gate
Renters enter only through the Main Gate, but you can leave by any gate. That’s worth knowing in an emergency.
No personal boats
Renters can’t launch their own kayaks, paddleboards or boats. Leave them home and rent at the Marina instead.
Weekend Marina parking
On weekends and holidays, the Marina lot is for owners only. Park at Dunn Court or Lake Lodge and ride the free water taxi.
No dogs at the beaches
Pine Mountain Lake doesn’t allow dogs at any beach or amenity. (Base Camp doesn’t allow pets either.)
Outdoor fire
From June 1 to November 15, only propane grills and propane fire pits are allowed outside. The indoor fireplaces are fine all year.
No fireworks
They’re illegal everywhere in Tuolumne County, including on the 4th of July.
Slow down
25 mph on every Pine Mountain Lake road. Watch for deer at dusk.
Quiet hours
10pm to 7am, at the house and at the amenities.
Parking
Park at the house, never on the street. Pine Mountain Lake tickets and tows cars parked on the street.
Source: Pine Mountain Lake Association guest & renter handbook and website. Last checked September 2026. Seasonal hours and fees change every year.