Walk-Up6/10
Sinkyone Usal Beach Campground permit
Drive-in campground at the southern end of the park, reached by Usal Road. No re...
Walk-UpOvernightModerate Demand
Orchard Camp Permit
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park
Hike-in environmental camp on the Lost Coast Trail. Pay on site, no reservations.
“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.”
How to get Orchard
Orchard 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 Orchard
Orchard 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
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Orchard 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
Distance
2.7 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
⛅
65°
52°
Mon
☀️
77°
57°
Tue
🌫️
71°
55°
Wed
🌫️
66°
53°
Thu
🌫️
64°
53°
Fri
🌫️
69°
56°
Sat
🌫️
66°
54°
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 Demand2/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation3/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Campers who want deep Sinkyone remoteness with a vehicle close by, in the narrow summer window when the southern road section opens.
Recommended Experience
Confidence on steep, narrow dirt roads prone to slip-outs, plus the usual Sinkyone self-sufficiency: all your water, a bear canister and your trash out.
Not Recommended For
Anyone travelling outside summer, anyone in a low-clearance vehicle, and anyone who needs certainty — road conditions decide whether you can reach this camp at all.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
Coastal prairie backed by Douglas fir, where the park's Roosevelt elk roam the grasslands.
Trailhead Information
Needle Rock Visitor Center (Briceland Road)
The access, registration and fee point; Orchard Camp is 2.7 miles further south along Briceland Road.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Day-use parking $8 per vehicle per day for Needle Rock and Jones Beach. Camping fees $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail. Approximately five parking places are available at Orchard Camp.
Getting There
36 miles southwest of Garberville or Redway on Briceland Road, becoming County Road 435; the last 3.5 miles are unpaved, steep and narrow. Four-wheel drive may be advisable in extreme weather. The road south to Orchard Camp opens only in summer when conditions allow, and is closed during the rainy season.
Nearest Services
Garberville or Redway, 36 miles away.
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.
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Orchard
🚐
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
Needle Rock Visitor Center
The park hub and fee point, 2.7 miles north of Orchard Camp along Briceland Road.
Orchard Camp
An environmental camp with approximately five parking places nearby.
Bear Harbor
Further south, the largest and most protected cove in the park and the hinge of the Lost Coast Trail.
Roosevelt elk range
The coastal prairies where the herd relocated from Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park can be seen roaming.
Safety & Planning
🚨
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Orchard.
🐻
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Orchard FAQ
How do I get a Orchard permit?
Orchard 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 Orchard?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Orchard permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Orchard 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 Orchard.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening on the coastal prairie, when the elk come out and the light goes long across the grass.
Best Light
Late summer and early autumn.
Beat the Crowds
The road south of Needle Rock only opens in summer when conditions allow, which keeps this end of the park quiet even in season.
Classic Shots
- 📍Roosevelt elk on the coastal prairies
- 📍Briceland Road running the bluff south of Needle Rock
- 📍Fog banked against the Douglas fir slopes
Can't Get a Orchard Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Bear Harbor Camp
Same AreaAn environmental camp on the largest and most protected cove in the park, further south and accessible by Briceland Road except in the rainy season.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
A real cove and beach, and the hinge of the Lost Coast Trail. Further along the same seasonal road.
Streamside Camp
Same AreaAn environmental camp a short walk from the Needle Rock Visitor Center, on the year-round-maintained section of road.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Reachable when the southern road section is closed, and close to the camp hosts. Less remote in feel.
Usal Beach Camp
Easier AlternativeThirty drive-in campsites on a black sand beach at the park's southern end, currently free.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Drive-in, free and reached from a different road entirely, so it is an option when Briceland Road is shut.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Orchard trip
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