How to Get a Orchard Permit
An environmental camp 2.7 miles south of Needle Rock on Briceland Road, with about five parking places — reachable by car in summer, when conditions allow.
Check Orchard permit availability$5 per person per night (pay at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock)
Permit Cost
2.7 miles
Distance
moderate
Difficulty
About Orchard
Orchard Camp is an environmental camp 2.7 miles south of Needle Rock along Briceland Road, at the far end of the road's drivable summer section. The park's 2006 general plan groups it with Railroad Camp and Bear Harbor Camp as the environmental campsites easily reachable from the southern end of Briceland Road, records three sites here, and notes approximately five parking places at the camp. Access is seasonal and conditional. Briceland Road from Four Corners to Needle Rock is generally maintained and open year-round, although four-wheel drive may be advisable during extreme weather because it is a steep narrow dirt road periodically experiencing slip-outs. During the summer season when conditions allow, Briceland Road is also open from Needle Rock to Orchard Camp. The road is narrow, subject to washouts, and closed during the rainy season. Sinkyone offers eight environmental camps, two horse camps, and two primitive camps. Environmental camps cost $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail. There is no online reservation system for any camp in this park. The park has no potable water, you haul out your own trash, and its dirt roads are impassable for passenger cars when wet.
Orchard sits at the end of the drivable section of Briceland Road. During the summer season when conditions allow, the road is open from Needle Rock to Orchard Camp, which makes it the easiest environmental camp to reach in a park where most are not reachable at all by vehicle.
The Experience
Coastal prairie backed by Douglas fir, where the park's Roosevelt elk roam the grasslands.
Briceland Road enters the park from the north at Four Corners, continues south 3.5 miles to Needle Rock, and 2.7 miles further to Orchard Camp. The portion from Four Corners to Needle Rock is generally maintained and open year-round, though four-wheel drive may be advisable during extreme weather because it is a steep narrow dirt road that periodically experiences slip-outs. During the summer season when conditions allow, Briceland Road is also open from Needle Rock to Orchard Camp.
The 2006 general plan groups Orchard with Railroad Camp and Bear Harbor Camp as the environmental campsites easily reachable from the southern end of Briceland Road, and records three sites here. It also notes that several parking places are available at the Needle Rock Visitor Center and approximately five are available at Orchard Camp.
Environmental camps do not offer drive-in access in the park's own terminology, even where a road runs nearby; the two primitive camps, Usal Beach and Needle Rock, are the drive-in options.
What to Expect
The southernmost point of the drivable Briceland Road, in summer only
Approximately five parking places at the camp
$5 per person per night, paid on site or by mail
No potable water anywhere in the park
Vault toilets in developed use areas
A road closed during the rainy season and prone to washouts
Get Orchard Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
Environmental camps and horse camps cost $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail.
Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed on trails.
Store food and any scented items in a bear canister when camping; items may also be stored in a locked car.
Haul out your own trash — there is no trash service in the park.
Due to rough driving conditions, large trailers and RVs are not recommended.
Day use areas open sunrise to sunset; day-use parking is $8 per vehicle per day.
No trails in this park are Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible.
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •All your drinking water — there is no potable water in the park
- •A bear canister for food and scented items
- •Full trash carry-out capacity
- •Warm, waterproof layers for coastal fog
- •Extra food and supplies in case a slide closes your route home
Recommended Gear
- •Four-wheel drive or high clearance, which the park says may be advisable in extreme weather
- •Cash or a check for the per-person fee
- •A paper map and an itinerary left at home
- •Binoculars for the Roosevelt elk herd
- •A satellite messenger, since cellphone connectivity is limited
Hazards & Safety
Sinkyone Wilderness SP is one of the most remote parks in California. In an emergency situation, help may not arrive for hours.
Briceland Road is a steep narrow dirt road that periodically experiences slip-outs, is subject to washouts, and is closed during the rainy season.
When wet, the park's twisting dirt roads are impassable for passenger cars, and mudslides or fallen trees can close your route home.
There is no potable water in the park.
Cellphone connectivity is limited and hiking on the shoreline can be dangerous.
Black bears — a bear canister or locked car is required.
The cold waters off the rugged North Coast are unpredictable and can be deadly.
Best Time to Visit
Summer, which is the only season the road south of Needle Rock opens, and then only when conditions allow. The rainy season closes it entirely.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for Orchard?
+
Yes, a permit is required. Walk-up permits are available at the trailhead or visitor center, but arrive early as they may be limited.
When is the best time to visit Orchard?
+
Summer, which is the only season the road south of Needle Rock opens, and then only when conditions allow. The rainy season closes it entirely.
How difficult is Orchard?
+
Campers who want deep Sinkyone remoteness with a vehicle close by, in the narrow summer window when the southern road section opens.
What gear do I need for Orchard?
+
Essential gear includes: All your drinking water — there is no potable water in the park, A bear canister for food and scented items, Full trash carry-out capacity, Warm, waterproof layers for coastal fog, Extra food and supplies in case a slide closes your route home.
Don't Miss Your Orchard Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Orchard availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts