Pine Mountain Lake · Groveland, CA

A private dock on the lake, 24 miles from Yosemite

Four bedrooms, four full baths and 180° of open water. My canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are down on the beach — pull one off and you're out there in a minute.

Check availabilitySee the house

Why people come here

A lakefront house with its own dock, an hour and a bit from the valley floor of Yosemite. Room for eight, and the water starts at the bottom of the lawn.

180° of open water

The living room, the deck and the upstairs bedroom all look straight down the lake. Sunset happens on this side, so you watch it from the deck instead of driving somewhere to find it.

A private dock, and the boats to go with it

Two canoes, two kayaks, two paddleboards and life jackets, already pulled up on the beach at the bottom of the lawn. Swim ladder off the end of the dock, and largemouth bass under it.

A hot tub that still works in January

Pine Mountain Lake never freezes, so it runs all year. After dark the string lights come on and the far shore turns into a scatter of gold on the water.

Yosemite, 24 miles up the road

The Big Oak Flat entrance is 24 miles east on Highway 120 — about 45 minutes, so you can be at the valley floor ahead of the day-trippers. Hetch Hetchy is 25 miles, and Wapama Falls peaks April through June.

The lawn runs down to the water, and the dock is yours

Pine Mountain Lake is 202 acres with 6 miles of shoreline and 3 sand beaches. This is your stretch of it — a private dock with a swim ladder, two canoes, two kayaks and two paddleboards already pulled up on the beach. The water is calm, genuinely swimmable, and it never freezes.

Pink and orange sunset over Pine Mountain Lake, with the house, private dock and watercraft beside the shore
The house, dock and watercraft all sit together on the same stretch of shoreline.
Outdoor sofas and dining chairs on a lakefront deck facing the low sun over Pine Mountain Lake
The main deck has separate lounge and dining areas, both facing the water.
Elevated view across blue water to the forested shoreline, with the private dock and boats below
From the house, the view opens across the lake to the forested far shore.
Private dock extending into still water beneath a pink, blue and gold sunset
The private dock sits directly below the house, with a swim ladder at the end.
Lakefront house between mature trees and Pine Mountain Lake, with a herd of deer grazing on the lawn
Deer are frequent visitors on the lawn between the house and the lake.
Three-storey lakefront house with its decks lit at dusk among tall pine and oak trees
The lake-facing side of the house has decks on multiple levels.

The house

Three storeys, four bedrooms, five beds and four full bathrooms. The living room, dining area and kitchen all face the water through four French doors, and on warm days I throw them all open so the deck and the living room become one room.

Bright living room with a stone fireplace, vaulted wood ceiling, sofas and French doors opening toward the lake
The main living room has a stone fireplace, a vaulted wood ceiling and doors onto the deck.
Living room seating surrounded by French doors with views of Pine Mountain Lake and the deck
Multiple French doors bring the lake view into the living room.
Open dining room and white kitchen beside French doors leading to a furnished lakefront deck
The dining room, kitchen and deck connect in one open lake-facing space.
White kitchen with a large breakfast bar, four stools, stainless-steel appliances and windows facing trees
The kitchen has a full-size refrigerator, range and breakfast bar for four.
Lake-view bedroom with a large bed, vaulted wood ceiling, private balcony and adjustable desk
One bedroom pairs a private lake-facing balcony with a dedicated desk.
Bedroom with a large bed, lake view, television and an adjoining full bathroom
This bedroom looks onto the lake and connects directly to a full bathroom.
Bright guest bedroom with a large bed, two bedside tables and windows looking onto mature trees
A quiet guest bedroom looks out into the surrounding trees.
Lower living room with a sectional sofa, large television and sliding door opening to a covered lakefront patio
The lower living room opens onto a covered patio at lake level.
Treadmill and elliptical machine positioned beside windows overlooking Pine Mountain Lake
The treadmill and elliptical face the lake instead of a blank wall.
Full-size wooden foosball table in the indoor recreation area
A full-size foosball table is ready for rainy afternoons and late nights.
Nespresso machine, coffee capsules and a cup arranged on the kitchen counter
The kitchen includes a Nespresso machine and capsule holder.

What you'll find here

The water

  • Private dock with swim ladder
  • 2 three-person canoes, 2 kayaks, 2 paddleboardsLife jackets included. No rental counter, no time slot.
  • Lawn running to the shoreline
  • Fishing off the dockLargemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, trout.
  • 180° panoramic lake view
  • Sunset faces the property across open water

Outside

  • Hot tub, seats 5The lake never freezes — a January soak works as well as a July one.
  • Two deck levelsMain deck off the living room, private balcony off the primary bedroom.
  • 8-person outdoor dining table
  • BBQ grill
  • Fire pit

Inside

  • 4 full bathrooms for 8 guestsEvery bathroom is a full bath, not a half.
  • Stone fireplace
  • 4 French doors to the deck
  • Full kitchen with islandStove and oven, French-door refrigerator, pots and pans, tableware for 10.
  • Nespresso Vertuo
  • Hotel-grade towels, refillable toiletries
  • Board gamesCatan, Ticket to Ride, Splendor, Jenga.

Game room

  • 75" TV and PS4
  • Foosball table
  • Treadmill and ellipticalFacing the water.

Working from here

  • Sit-stand desk
  • External monitor
  • Ergonomic chair
  • Wifi

Practical

  • Free parking on premises
  • Washer and dryer
  • Pets welcomeWell-behaved pets.
  • Holiday decorations, November–January
Bubbling hot tub under a covered patio with an unobstructed view across Pine Mountain Lake
The hot tub sits under cover and faces directly across the lake.
Lakefront hot tub and wooden lounge chairs on a covered patio above the private dock
The covered patio keeps the hot tub usable while the dock remains just below.
Two wooden lounge chairs and a swim ladder on the private dock over clear blue lake water
Two chairs and a swim ladder turn the dock into its own place to spend the afternoon.
A paddleboarder crossing calm lake water with a pine-covered shore in the distance
The paddleboards launch from the property, so there is no rental stop before getting on the water.
Two blue kayaks, a canoe and paddleboards stored together beside the lake shore
Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are kept together at the bottom of the lawn.
Two reclining chairs on the lakeside lawn facing the private dock and low sun over the water
The lawn between the house and dock has room to settle in beside the water.
Private dock with a swim ladder, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards arranged along the shore
The private dock, swim ladder and watercraft are all together on the property shoreline.

Yosemite, and everything inside the gate

  • Yosemite — Big Oak Flat entrance24 miles east on Highway 120

    Roughly a 45-minute drive.

  • Hetch Hetchy25 miles

    Wapama Falls peaks April through June, at full snowmelt.

  • Rainbow Pool swimming holes15 miles east on Highway 120
  • Groveland10 min

    Just outside the gate. The Iron Door Saloon has been pouring since 1852 — California's oldest continuously operating saloon.

Inside the community

A private gated community built around the lake and an 18-hole championship course.

  • Marina
  • Three sand beaches
  • Equestrian center
  • Tennis and pickleball courts
  • 18-hole championship golf

The course was designed by William F. Bell and opened in 1969: par 70, 6,363 yards, ponderosa pine and black oak throughout.

Entry is through the main gate with a guest pass per vehicle. The association charges about $50 per vehicle per stay — that funds the 24-hour gate, the patrols, and the road and fire-clearance work the mountains demand, and it is what keeps the lake and the beaches to residents and their guests.

Aerial view of Pine Mountain Lake surrounded by forested hills, homes and part of the golf course
Pine Mountain Lake sits inside a forested gated community near Groveland.
Green fairway, putting green and sand bunkers on the Pine Mountain Lake golf course
The community golf course winds through mature pines and oaks.
Multiple outdoor pickleball courts in use, surrounded by homes and forested hills
Community pickleball courts are available inside the gate.
Historic storefronts and the Iron Door Saloon along the main road through downtown Groveland
Historic downtown Groveland has restaurants and shops along the road toward Yosemite.

4.96★ from 54 guests

96% five stars

“I've stayed at half a dozen different homes in Pine Mountain Lake and hands down this was the best of them all.”

Kelly · San Jose, California · July 2026

“We saw deer all day everyday in the yard. You just feel relaxed, peaceful and connected to nature here.”

Lindsay · Temecula, California · July 2026

“If you like bass fishing, no kidding it's a real honey hole. We caught a huge bass, which we released.”

Paul · Dublin, California · July 2026

“The balcony and dock are amazing, and everything was very high quality at the house.”

Erik · Seattle, Washington · June 2026

“We had 7 people and felt spread out and not on top of each other.”

Robalison · Elk Grove, California · June 2026

“This was a great place to bring the whole family.”

Barbara · Los Gatos, California · July 2026

“Very clean, enough dishes, and the view is simply beyond words.”

Hanna · United States · 2026 · Booking.com

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Things people ask me

How do I get through the gate?

The house sits inside the Pine Mountain Lake gated community, so you'll come in through the main gate and pick up a guest pass for each vehicle. The association charges about $50 per vehicle per stay — that one goes to the community, not to me. It pays for a gate that is staffed 24 hours, the patrols, and the road and fire-clearance work that keeps somewhere this far into the mountains running, and it is what keeps the lake and the three beaches to residents and their guests rather than open to day traffic. I'll send you the gate directions with your check-in details.

Can we use the boats?

Yes, and they're yours for the stay. Two three-person canoes, two single-seat kayaks, two paddleboards, and life jackets for the group. They live on the beach at the bottom of the lawn, so getting on the water takes about a minute. No rental counter, no time slot, no roof rack.

Is the hot tub usable in winter?

Yes. The lake never freezes and I keep the hot tub running all year. A January soak works exactly as well as a July one, and the string lights make it better.

Can we bring our dog?

Please do — well-behaved pets are welcome, and plenty of my guests arrive with dogs. There's a lawn running down to the water and deer in it most mornings, so they tend to have a good time.

How far is Yosemite?

Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance is 24 miles east on Highway 120, about a 45-minute drive, so you can be at the valley floor ahead of the day-trippers. Hetch Hetchy is around 25 miles, and Wapama Falls is at its best April through June. Do check the National Park Service for current entrance-reservation rules before you travel — they change year to year.

Where do we park?

There's free parking at the house. The only thing to know is the community's gate fee is charged per vehicle, so arriving in fewer cars saves you money.

Can we change the bed configuration?

Yes. One bedroom has two twin beds that slide together into a king. Tell me what you'd like before you arrive and it'll be made up that way when you walk in.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check in any time from 4:00 PM, and the door code keeps working until 2:00 AM if you're driving up late. Check-out is before 11:00 AM.

What happens if I need to cancel?

Cancel 30 or more days before check-in and you get everything you've paid back. Between 7 and 30 days it's 50%. Inside the last 7 days I'm not able to refund the stay.

Is there a deposit?

I hold a $500 refundable security deposit against the card on file. It's placed the day before you arrive and released 7 days after you check out, assuming the house is left roughly as you found it. It's a hold, not a charge — the money never leaves your account.

Are there security cameras?

There are exterior security cameras on the property. There are no cameras inside the house.

Anything you want to know before you come?

Ask me about the gate, the boats, the drive up, or whether the tree will be up when you visit. I answer the same day, in English or Chinese.

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