Snow Day: Pinecrest Lake and Highway 108

Something I'm (finally) realizing about this blog is that it can exist as a personal time capsule. A document of my adventures, my passions, my discoveries, my seasons. Not everything needs to be a lengthy, articulate travelogue or an introspective essay about learning lessons in nature. Sometimes it can simply be "I had so much fun yesterday and here are some photos!"

Well, I had a blast yesterday and here are some photos :)

Before the next batch of storms hit down here in the central California valley and up in the Sierra Nevada range, I wanted to feast my eyes on some snowy mountains. One last mini-adventure to cap 2025. I drove up to Pinecrest Lake for a quick day trip and found myself in a continuous state of awe.

After trouncing through the snowy lake shore and taking a bunch of photos, I drove north a few miles to Strawberry and parked "downtown" (which pretty much comprises a general store, a restaurant, and a couple motels) next to the bridge over the South Fork Stanislaus River.

Why? Because to me, there's no more beautiful combination in nature than a surging river and snowy banks hugging it.

Then I continued north, with the intention of walking through Brightman Flat, one of my favorite campgrounds in this area. But CalTrans had other plans. Even though I knew Sonora Pass had already closed for the winter, they gated the road well before that. In fact, I think the proverbial end of the road is 16 miles before Kennedy Meadows, the popular pitstop and resupply station for PCT hikers. (The climb up and over Sonora Pass begins shortly after Kennedy Meadows.)

On both sides of the gate, however, is something I'd never paid attention to as I was driving up the 108 and to Brightman Flat for my regular 2025 camping trips. "SNO-PARK" areas! These are massive parking lots open during the winter season, intended as staging areas for recreational use. What was especially interesting to me is that you can legally park there for 3 consecutive nights, and legally sleep in your vehicle, provided you obtain a permit (only $40 for the season).

And that got my brain buzzing about future snow hiking adventures. Or, hell, just sleeping in the car at the SNO-PARK lot, and playing in the snow right there or at nearby Dodge Ridge.

I love little day trips like this, especially during alternate seasons (I've only done this drive in spring and summer) because it opens my eyes to more possibilities. Since this area is less than 2 hours from my home, I'm vowing to spend much less of the 2026 winter months hibernating at home, and more time out playing in nature.

Some additional photos from the drive: