Hi! I’m Kasey – I have been working with Emily for several years now (Woah, Covid has made it hard to keep track of time!) We met through a mom’s group after I realized that I had been using Henry and Andrew’s Guide (this blog!) to plan my family trips. It was one of those “what a small world!” moments when we discovered that fact. I’ve been helping with editing, researching, and writing for H&A Guide ever since. I’ve always loved Emily’s honesty, clarity, and adventurous soul when it comes to traveling. Thanks to the military, I have moved a lot and am constantly seeking new places to explore. I have 2 awesome little dudes (just like Emily) who are always up for a new adventure too.

Emily encouraged me to visit her super cute cabin at Pine Mountain Lake in Groveland and, of course, I began packing immediately. Firstly, I totally trust Emily’s travel suggestions after years of working with her and following her blog. Second, I was in desperate need of a place to take my boys on a fun, easy getaway… and it was a huge bonus that it is super closer to Yosemite National Park!

If you have never been before, Pine Mountain Lake is a relaxing getaway from the chaos of daily life. It has laid-back vibes that make it the perfect vacation spot if you’re looking for a gorgeous place to unwind. We found plenty of fun things to do in the spring, but summertime is definitely the busy season in PML. There’s so much to do around the lake- with or without kids! 

*Just a couple of things to know: Pine Mountain Lake is a private gated community that was developed in the 1970s. It’s just 1 mile northeast of Groveland, Ca, and about an hour to the heart of Yosemite Valley. The lake is only available to the property owners and their guests- there are a lot of rules in place to keep the crowds down and the owners happy. If you are lucky enough to find an awesome Airbnb in the community (I 100% highly recommend Emily’s adorable cabin), then you will have a blast exploring Pine Mountain Lake and all it has to offer. 

 

Are you interested in other getaways and Yosemite? Read more here:

• Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite – Perfect Fall Getaway
• 30+ Weekend Getaways from San Francisco with Kids
• Yosemite in the Winter – A Guide to Visiting

Here are 12 Fun Things to do in Pine Mountain Lake:

1. Enjoy the Beaches & Get on the Lake

Pine Mountain Lake has three beaches: Marina Beach is the biggest, Lake Lodge is cute with a playground, and Dunn Court Beach is smaller but still worth checking out. Each has a protected swim area marked off and beaches perfect for a day of fun and relaxation. 

One of the best days at Pine Mountain Lake is when we packed lunches and spent an afternoon playing at Lake Lodge beach. In addition to an easily accessible beach and picnic tables, it also had a fun little playground! The boys had a blast building sandcastles, skipping rocks, and climbing on the play structure. We were the only ones there for most of the time and it felt pretty amazing to have the place to ourselves. I imagine that this will not be the case when we return in the summer though.

Sadly, Marina beach was closed at the time that we visited. We really wish that it was open for us to rent a pedal boat or kayak, but now we have something to do when we return! Since the lake is obviously one of the main attractions to visiting this area, we loved seeing all of the options for enjoying time on or by the water- sailing, boating, water skiing, kayaking, etc. Most of the water activities are only available from Memorial Day on, but the beaches are perfect for any time of year. I especially loved how they were geared towards families with playgrounds, protected swim areas, and picnic tables.

In addition to bringing boats and renting watercrafts, you can also soak up the lake vibes by exploring on a Water Taxi. It circles the lake hourly! This is something my kids and I are looking forward to doing when we return in the summer too.

2. Explore the Playgrounds and Skate Park

 

If you are bringing kids to Pine Mountain Lake, then you are definitely going to want to know about parks and playgrounds. Mary Laveroni Park has a fun play structure and is located close to the coffee shops! It has a fence (which is always a plus with wild toddlers) and has picnic tables for snack time. The boys loved it. Also, if you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, right behind the playground is a skate park! No one was on it when we were near it, but it looked pretty awesome! Fun fact: the skate park was built from the community collecting cans to raise funds! Gotta love a supportive community. 

 

Fisherman’s Cove also has a playground for when you need a break from water activities or if you’re just looking for a spot near the lake to play. In addition to play structures and outdoor activities, Pine Mountain Lake has so much natural beauty for kids to appreciate. As we were driving around the lake looking for play areas, we came across plenty of wildlife that the boys were amazed by- We were even able to pull up right next to a family of grazing deer! One of the cool things about being further away from the city life!

 

3. Take a Hike & See the Sights!

There are several options for hiking in and around Pine Mountain Lake. The PML association has trail maps to make your planning easy. Rock Canyon Trail starts at Fisherman’s Cove and is a 1.5-mile loop. It is a nice little hike to take with kids. 

There are a few spots between Yosemite and PML that are fun to explore. One cool hike is Tuolumne Grove Trail which leads to the Dead Giant Tunnel Tree. When we were heading out to do this little adventure it started snowing and we didn’t end up making it to see the cool trail or the tunnel tree, so we are going to head back in the summer. Another place to check out between Yosemite Valley floor and Pine Mountain Lake is Rainbow Pool. It is in Stanislaus National Forrest and has a small waterfall and rocks to have a nice picnic. 

Honestly, there are so many options for hiking and sightseeing in and around Pine Mountain Lake that I could write a whole separate post on it… maybe I will! 🙂 

 

4. Go Fishing!

Fisherman’s Cove is a perfect spot to relax and fish, play with kids, or hop on the Water Taxi! Remember that fishing on the lake is governed by California State law and requires a California State fishing license. There is no live bait permitted other than worms, and there are rules to follow in terms of fish limits. You can pick up a fishing license at the Main Gate and seasonally at the Marina. You can stop to play at the playground or catch the water taxi as well. But, it is not a beach for swimming! If you are feeling competitive, you can sign up for the annual fishing derby at the Marina Store before heading out with your pole. There is a prize for the biggest fish caught during May through October. 

5. Spend an afternoon at the Equestrian Center

 

When I heard that there was an Equestrian Center in PML I knew I wanted to check it out. My boys are a bit young to go horseback riding, but they loooove animals of all kinds and are just happy to be outside in nature. So, we hit up the Equestrian Center in the afternoon one day not really knowing what to expect. I had to sign in when we arrived because it is a boarding facility with privately owned horses. Then we were told to feel free to walk around and check out the horses. There were a couple being groomed that the boys were fascinated by, a couple in stalls resting, and a couple out frolicking- literally they were frolicking and it was adorable! When the boys get a bit older, I would love to check out their trail rides and riding lessons. I also saw that they have tables, a stage and dance floor, and BBQs available for events if you’re looking to host a party! Overall, it was a fun, laid-back little outing for the family even without anyone actually getting to ride a horse. 

6. Check Out the Archery Range

Pine Mountain Lake has its own archery range! I don’t know about you, but I thought that this was super cool. I have always thought archery was intriguing. It’s something I hadn’t done in years, so it’s exciting to know that they have a range to check out!. There are a lot of rules in place for safety reasons, so be sure to review those and follow them. 

7. Hang by the Pool

The Pine Mountain Lake Swim Center opens on Memorial Day weekend! It is perfect for anyone looking to have a fun, relaxing day at the pool or a great place for swim lessons and water aerobics classes. There is even a Saturday night pool party! I’d suggest packing a pool bag with all the essentials to be able to spend the day lounging, splashing, and enjoying the beautiful weather in PML. As an added bonus, there is also a store and snack bar just in case you forget anything!

8. Hit a Few Balls at the Golf Course/Driving Range

 

Important stuff here! 😉 It’s always fun to get to try new wine/beer… and vacation is the perfect time to do it!

Gianelli Vineyards is only about 30 minutes outside of Pine Mountain Lake and totally worth the trip! You can also plan to stop on your way into/out of town. The views are stunning, so pack some snacks and hit the road. We suggest doing a tasting outside overlooking the hills of the vineyard. The boys were with us, so we had toys and backup tablets just in case, but they just wanted to play in the dirt of course! 🙂 It’s only open Wednesday through Sunday, so plan your trip in advance!

As for beer…

 

Around the Horn Brewing Company is local in Groveland! It is definitely worth checking out…. multiple times. We loved their lowkey vibes and awesome decor (dinosaurs and Buzz Lightyear were some of the kids’ favorite finds). But the real reason to visit is for the beer. We tasted several of the options on tap and were impressed by the diverse selection.

We also got a giant pretzel for the kids and, honestly, I was sad I didn’t get a second one just for me. After enjoying our flight tastings and time just relaxing at the brewery, we ended up purchasing a couple of their ‘crowlers’ to bring home!

I wish I lived close enough to try out their Yoga On Tap or some of their other events. If you’re planning to vacation in Pine Mountain Lake, then make sure you check out their events page to see if you can catch one of them!

*This is totally random, but it may be helpful advice for anyone visiting Pine Mountain Lake and Yosemite. The Tire Shop is a great local business if you have any car issues while on vacation! Unfortunately, during our vacation, we found out that those rockfall warning signs you see driving in the mountains are there for a reason. There was a rockfall directly in front of our Jeep when we were only a little outside of Groveland. We were lucky enough to not be hit directly by the rocks, but we were unable to stop in time and blew out our tire/rim. Super-Dada changed our tire on the side of the mountain in the sleet! But, we knew we needed to get it checked before driving 4 hours home. We found The Tire Shop in Groveland and were so lucky that they were close by and helpful. They got us fixed up quickly and made sure we were safe to drive home. Apparently, this is something they are familiar with since Pine Mountain Lake is one of the closest places to Yosemite to stay. It is also quite lucky that they are located directly behind Around the Horn Brewing Company! 😉 

12. Take a Day Trip to Yosemite

Speaking of Yosemite… why wouldn’t you at least take a day trip into the park when you’re so close to it while vacationing in Pine Mountain Lake?! Yosemite is one of Emily’s (and my) happy places. It might be cliche, but the natural beauty that you see and the feeling of serenity that emanates from inside of the park are just unbeatable. I could write a whole separate post on Yosemite with kids… and Emily already has… so check it out! Then, go plan a little mini-vacation within your vacation at Pine Mountain Lake!

 

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Remember that Airbnb is the way to go if you want to spend time on the lake- that way you have access to the water, beaches, etc. I totally recommend Emily’s place! It is adorable and has everything you could ever need and more for your lake vacation. The place even has a hot tub and air hockey table! My boys were so sad to leave.