How to Get a Usal Beach Permit
Thirty drive-in campsites on a black sand beach at the southern end of the Lost Coast Trail — currently free, six miles up an unpaved road.
Check Usal Beach permit availabilityFree (no camping fee currently charged)
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About Usal Beach
Usal Beach Camp is the drive-in camp at the southern end of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. The park offers eight environmental camps, two horse camps, and two primitive camps; primitive camps offer drive-in access, while environmental camps do not, and Usal Beach is one of the two primitive camps. Usal Beach Campground is currently free, and there are no day-use fees at Usal Beach. Sinkyone is approximately 7,700 acres on the southern portion of the Lost Coast, and its conditions are the point. There is no potable water anywhere in the park, and you have to haul out your own trash. When wet, the park's twisting dirt roads are impassable for passenger cars. As the park quotes one of its own rangers: the Sinkyone lets you go when it wants to let you go. Usal is the trailhead for the Lost Coast Trail's southern section, which parallels the coastline for 22 miles within the park and is described by the agency as rugged, strenuous, and not recommended for beginner backpackers or hikers. No trails in this park are ADA-accessible. The park's site counts come from its 2006 Preliminary General Plan and Draft EIR, which records thirty vehicle accessible campsites at Usal Beach and notes that a large number of them are not officially designated sites but have been established by long-term use patterns.
Usal is the southern gateway to Sinkyone Wilderness and one of the park's two drive-in primitive camps. It is also the trailhead for the 22 miles of Lost Coast Trail that run through the park.
The Experience
Black sand, driftwood and fog, at the end of six miles of unpaved, steep, narrow road. Cellphone connectivity is limited and help may not arrive for hours.
Usal Beach is the southern access to Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, approximately one hour north of Fort Bragg on the Pacific Coast Highway or 15 miles west of Leggett from Highway 101. Look for mile marker 90.88 on the PCH, then turn north for approximately 6 miles onto an unpaved, steep, narrow road.
The park's 2024 map labels Usal Beach Camp as primitive, meaning drive-in access with fire rings, picnic tables and pit toilets — as distinct from the environmental camps, which do not offer drive-in access. Usal Beach Campground is currently free, and there are no day-use fees at Usal Beach either.
The Lost Coast Trail begins at the south end of the park at Usal Beach Campground and remains a foot trail until it reaches Bear Harbor. Within Sinkyone the trail runs 22 miles of the 47-mile total, and the park is blunt about it: though beautiful, this trail is rugged, strenuous, and not recommended for beginner backpackers or hikers. The Hotel Gulch trail runs from Usal Beach Campground to Wheeler and is available for horses.
What to Expect
Drive-in access on a black sand beach, currently free
No potable water anywhere in the park
Vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables at a primitive camp
Six miles of unpaved, steep, narrow road to get there
Limited cellphone connectivity and help that may take hours
Usal Road closed in winter
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Permit Requirements
Environmental camps and horse camps cost $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail; Usal Beach Campground is currently free.
Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed on trails.
Protect yourself and wildlife by storing 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.
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, or a locked car
- •A high-clearance vehicle, or at minimum dry weather and patience
- •Full trash carry-out capacity
- •Extra food and supplies in case you are stranded
Recommended Gear
- •A paper map and a plan you have left with someone at home
- •Tire-changing kit for six miles of rough unpaved road
- •Warm, waterproof layers for persistent coastal fog
- •A tide table before walking any beach section
- •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.
Hiking on the shoreline can be dangerous, and cellphone connectivity is limited.
The cold waters off the rugged North Coast are unpredictable and can be deadly, not only for beginners but even for experts. Check the tides and weather conditions before recreating in or near the ocean.
There is no potable water in the park.
When wet, the park's twisting dirt roads are impassable for passenger cars. More than a few visitors have had to stay an extra day or two because a mudslide or fallen tree closed their route home.
Most roads into the park are seasonal; Usal Road is closed in winter.
Black bears are present — the park requires food and scented items in a bear canister or a locked car.
Best Time to Visit
Summer and early autumn, when the roads are dry and passable. Usal Road is closed in winter, and the rainy season makes the dirt roads impassable for passenger cars. The park notes that visitation is limited to weekends and the summer season by its remoteness.
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 Usal Beach?
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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 Usal Beach?
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Summer and early autumn, when the roads are dry and passable. Usal Road is closed in winter, and the rainy season makes the dirt roads impassable for passenger cars. The park notes that visitation is limited to weekends and the summer season by its remoteness.
How difficult is Usal Beach?
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Campers who want the Lost Coast without a backpack, and Lost Coast Trail hikers staging for the southern section. The camping is easy; the getting there is not.
What gear do I need for Usal Beach?
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Essential gear includes: All your drinking water — there is no potable water in the park, A bear canister for food and scented items, or a locked car, A high-clearance vehicle, or at minimum dry weather and patience, Full trash carry-out capacity, Extra food and supplies in case you are stranded.
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Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Usal Beach availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
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