Walk-Up6/10
Sinkyone Bear Harbor Camp permit
Hike-in environmental camp on the Lost Coast Trail. Pay on site, no reservations...
Walk-UpOvernightModerate Demand
Little Jackass Creek Camp Permit
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park
Hike-in environmental camp on the Lost Coast Trail. Pay on site, no reservations.
“A roadless camp above a beach that is a haul-out site for migrating California sea lions.”
How to get Little Jackass
Little Jackass is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
How to get Little Jackass
Little Jackass is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
Start a plan — it's free
No permit needed to start
Little Jackass Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand LevelModerate6/10
Cost$5 per person per night (pay at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock)
This permit is not bookable online
You get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone. There is no online reservation to race for, so availability alerts do not apply. We still track key dates and season info for your trip.
Official permit page →Key Information
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand Level6/10
LocationLost Coast, CA
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Point to Point
Difficulty
StrenuousHighlights
- •A roadless camp reached only on foot along the Lost Coast Trail
- •A beach used by migrating California sea lions
- •A fire ring and vault toilets nearby, per the park's general plan
- •$5 per person per night, paid on site or by mail
- •No potable water anywhere in the park
- •A trail the agency calls rugged, strenuous and not for beginners
Best Time to Visit
Summer and early autumn, when both access roads are open and the trail is driest. Both Usal Road and Briceland Thorn Road are closed in winter.
Hazards & Considerations
- !The Lost Coast Trail here is rugged, strenuous, and not recommended for beginner backpackers or hikers.
- !Sinkyone Wilderness SP is one of the most remote parks in California. In an emergency situation, help may not arrive for hours.
- !Hauled-out sea lions on the beach — keep well clear of wildlife.
- !The cold waters off the rugged North Coast are unpredictable and can be deadly, even for experts.
- !There is no potable water in the park.
- !Cellphone connectivity is limited.
- !Black bears — a bear canister is required for food and scented items.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
☀️
63°
54°
Sun
🌧️
64°
55°
Mon
☀️
74°
54°
Tue
☀️
71°
56°
Wed
☀️
70°
58°
Thu
☀️
70°
59°
Fri
☀️
68°
56°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Check the agency page for the process
This permit is not sold online. Confirm where and when it is issued — and any fee — at California State Parks before your trip.
2
Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served, and quotas can fill early on weekends and holidays.
3
Have backup plans
Popular trailheads may be full. Know alternative routes or dates in case your first choice is unavailable.
Learn More
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand5/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk4/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation3/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment5/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Experienced backpackers walking the Sinkyone Lost Coast Trail who want the most remote night available in the park, and who will give hauled-out wildlife a wide berth.
Recommended Experience
Multi-day backcountry travel on steep, rough coastal trail with no resupply, no potable water, no reliable communications and no road bail-out.
Not Recommended For
Beginner backpackers, anyone without a bear canister, and anyone who cannot treat or carry all their own water over a multi-day route.
About This Permit
Little Jackass Creek Camp is a hike-in environmental camp on the roadless section of the Lost Coast Trail between Usal Beach and Bear Harbor. Environmental camps do not offer drive-in access.
The defining feature is the wildlife. The beach at Little Jackass Creek is a haul-out site for migrating California sea lions. Keep your distance from hauled-out animals.
The park's 2006 Preliminary General Plan — the only agency source publishing per-camp counts — records four sites here, and states that environmental campsites along the Lost Coast Trail are equipped with a fire ring and vault toilets nearby.
Fees are $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail. There is no online reservation for any Sinkyone camp. The park has no potable water, you haul out your own trash, and its roads are impassable for passenger cars when wet.
The Experience
Why It Matters
The beach at Little Jackass Creek is a haul-out site for migrating California sea lions — a working wildlife site rather than a scenic one, and the sea lions are the reason to be quiet here.
The Route
Wheeler Camp, Little Jackass Creek Camp and Anderson Gulch Camp are environmental camps located along the Lost Coast Trail, between Usal Beach and Bear Harbor. Environmental camps do not offer drive-in access, and no road reaches this camp.
The beach at Little Jackass Creek is a haul-out site for migrating California sea lions, and Northport Gulch beach is a haul-out site for harbor seals.
The park's 2006 general plan records four sites here and notes that environmental campsites along the Lost Coast Trail are equipped with a fire ring and vault toilets nearby. The Lost Coast Trail runs 22 miles within Sinkyone and, in the agency's words, though beautiful, this trail is rugged, strenuous, and not recommended for beginner backpackers or hikers.
The Feeling
Steep forest dropping to a small creek mouth and a beach with animals on it. On this coast, arriving somewhere no vehicle can reach changes the whole character of a night.
Trailhead Information
Usal Beach Campground
The southern trailhead. The Lost Coast Trail remains a foot trail from here until it reaches Bear Harbor.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
No fees at Usal Beach. Environmental camps cost $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail. Large trailers and RVs are not recommended.
Getting There
Approximately one hour north of Ft Bragg on PCH or 15 miles west of Leggett; mile marker 90.88, then north approximately 6 miles on unpaved, steep, narrow road. Usal Road is closed in winter.
Nearest Services
Leggett or Fort Bragg.
Needle Rock Visitor Center (northern access)
The northern approach, walking south from Bear Harbor where the foot trail resumes.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Day-use parking $8 per vehicle per day. Fees payable here or at Jones Beach gate.
Getting There
36 miles southwest of Garberville or Redway on Briceland Road; last 3.5 miles unpaved, steep and narrow, closed in winter.
Nearest Services
Garberville or Redway.
Rules & Regulations
- •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.
- •Day use areas open sunrise to sunset.
- •No trails in this park are Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible.
- •Regulations for trail use and camping differ between BLM's King Range and California State Parks' Sinkyone section.
Gear Checklist
Required
- All your drinking water, or a filter and a creek plan — the park has no potable water
- A bear canister for food and scented items
- Full trash carry-out capacity
- Boots for steep, rugged trail
- Warm, waterproof layers for persistent fog
Recommended
- A tide table for shoreline sections
- A long lens, so sea lions can be watched without approach
- Trekking poles for steep creek descents
- A satellite messenger — help may not arrive for hours
- An itinerary left with someone at home
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Little Jackass
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
Usal Beach Campground
The southern trailhead for the Lost Coast Trail.
Wheeler Camp
The neighboring camp at Jackass Creek, where the Hotel Gulch trail meets the Lost Coast Trail.
Little Jackass Creek beach
A haul-out site for migrating California sea lions.
Bear Harbor
The northern end of the roadless section and the largest, most protected cove in the park.
Safety & Planning
🚨
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Little Jackass.
🐻
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Little Jackass FAQ
How do I get a Little Jackass permit?
Little Jackass is not sold online. It is issued in person or by phone, so there is no reservation to book and no cancellation to catch. PermitSnag does not send alerts for it — check the official permit page for the current process.
When is the best time to visit Little Jackass?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Little Jackass permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Little Jackass permit?
On this permit there is no cancellation queue and no alert to set, because nothing is re-released onto a calendar we could watch. Bring backup dates, and check the official permit page for the current process and any closures.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Little Jackass.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
The creek mouth at sunset, with the beach and its sea lions in the foreground — photograph from distance and do not approach.
Best Light
Late summer and early autumn.
Beat the Crowds
No road reaches this camp, and the park calls the trail rugged, strenuous and not recommended for beginners.
Classic Shots
- 📍California sea lions hauled out at the creek mouth
- 📍The Lost Coast Trail descending through Douglas fir
- 📍Black sand and driftwood with no access road
- 📍Fog against the ridge above camp
- 📍Sea stacks along the roadless shoreline
Can't Get a Little Jackass Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Wheeler Camp
Same AreaThe neighboring Lost Coast Trail camp at Jackass Creek, also reachable by the Hotel Gulch trail from Usal Beach.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
A second route in via Hotel Gulch, and horse access.
Bear Harbor Camp
Same AreaThe northern end of the roadless section, on the park's largest and most protected cove.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Accessible by Briceland Road except in the rainy season, which makes it far less committing.
Jones Beach Camp
Similar ExperienceAnother roadless beach camp, easily accessible on foot from the Needle Rock House parking area.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
The same roadless-beach character with a far shorter walk from the car.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Little Jackass trip
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Add PermitSnag in Google
Takes less than a minute.