Walk-Up6/10
Sinkyone Jones Beach Camp permit
Hike-in environmental camp on the Lost Coast Trail. Pay on site, no reservations...
Walk-UpOvernightModerate Demand
Usal Beach Campground Permit
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park
Drive-in campground at the southern end of the park, reached by Usal Road. No reservations.
“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.”
How to get Usal Beach
Usal Beach 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 Usal Beach
Usal Beach 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.
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Usal Beach Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand LevelModerate6/10
CostFree (no camping fee currently charged)
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
Out & Back
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
⛅
65°
54°
Sun
☀️
66°
53°
Mon
☀️
77°
56°
Tue
☀️
72°
56°
Wed
☀️
70°
58°
Thu
☀️
71°
61°
Fri
☀️
70°
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 Demand2/5
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
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
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.
Recommended Experience
Self-sufficiency and comfort being genuinely remote. Carry all water, store food in a bear canister, and accept that a mudslide can keep you an extra day.
Not Recommended For
Anyone in a low-clearance vehicle in wet weather, anyone with a large trailer or RV, and anyone who needs cell service or nearby help.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Trailhead Information
Usal Beach (Usal Road, County Road 431)
The southern park access and the Lost Coast Trail's southern terminus, six miles up an unpaved road from the Pacific Coast Highway.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
No fees at Usal Beach. Usal Beach Campground is currently free. Due to rough driving conditions, large trailers and RVs are not recommended.
Getting There
Approximately one hour north of Ft Bragg on PCH or 15 miles west of Leggett on PCH from Highway 101. Look for mile marker 90.88, then turn north for approximately 6 miles onto unpaved, steep, narrow road. Usal Road is closed in winter, and roads may be impassable in wet weather.
Nearest Services
Leggett or Fort Bragg. Nothing in the park.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Usal Beach
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
Usal Beach
The largest beach in the park at five acres, with the most extensive use and the easiest access from main roads.
Usal Beach Campground
Thirty vehicle-accessible campsites, currently free.
Lost Coast Trail southern terminus
The trail begins here and remains a foot trail until it reaches Bear Harbor.
Hotel Gulch trail
The former Hotel Gulch Road, running from Usal Beach Campground to the Wheeler campsite at Jackass Creek, where it meets the Lost Coast Trail.
Wheeler Camp
A hike-in camp north along the Lost Coast Trail.
Safety & Planning
🚨
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Usal Beach.
🐻
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Usal Beach FAQ
How do I get a Usal Beach permit?
Usal Beach 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 Usal Beach?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Usal Beach permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Usal Beach 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 Usal Beach.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset straight down the beach, with fog usually rolling in behind it.
Best Light
Late summer and early autumn.
Beat the Crowds
The road is the filter: six miles of unpaved, steep, narrow driving. Even so, Usal sees the most extensive use of any spot in the park.
Classic Shots
- 📍Black sand and driftwood at Usal Beach
- 📍The unpaved road descending toward the coast
- 📍Roosevelt elk on the coastal prairies
- 📍Fog moving through Douglas fir above the beach
- 📍The Lost Coast Trail sign at its southern terminus
Can't Get a Usal Beach 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, accessible by Briceland Road except during the rainy season.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Further from the road and quieter, with a real cove. But it is an environmental camp with no drive-in access and it costs $5 per person.
Wheeler Camp
Same AreaA hike-in environmental camp along the Lost Coast Trail between Usal Beach and Bear Harbor, reached on foot or by the Hotel Gulch trail.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Genuinely remote and reachable from Usal on foot, but hike-in only with no road access at all.
Pomo Canyon Environmental Campground
Easier AlternativeTwenty-one first-come walk-in sites in second-growth redwood above the Sonoma Coast.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Porta-potties and 21 first-come sites within a quarter mile of the parking lot. But it is a far tamer coastline, well to the south.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Usal Beach trip
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