Walk-Up6/10
Sonoma Coast Willow Creek Environmental Campground permit
Environmental campground near the coast. Not on the reservation system — self-re...
Walk-UpOvernightModerate Demand
Pomo Canyon Environmental Campground Permit
Environmental campground in coastal redwoods. Not on the reservation system — self-register and pay on site. No water.
“Twenty-one first-come walk-in sites in a second-growth redwood forest above the Sonoma Coast, with no water and no reservation system.”
How to get Pomo Canyon
Pomo Canyon 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 Pomo Canyon
Pomo Canyon 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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Pomo Canyon Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodWalk-Up
Demand LevelModerate6/10
Cost$25 per night (self-register on site; cash or check only)
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
LocationSonoma Coast, CA
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
0.25 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-7 nights
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •Twenty-one first-come sites you cannot reserve
- •Fire rings, picnic tables and porta-potty toilets
- •No running water at all — a dry campground
- •A walk of no more than a quarter mile from the parking lot
- •Cash or personal check only, self-registered on arrival
- •Seasonal operation with no published dates — call ahead
Best Time to Visit
Late spring through early autumn, while the camp is open for the season — the park publishes no dates, so call before you drive. Summer weekends fill early because nothing can be reserved. Autumn brings the clearest coastal weather and the least competition.
Hazards & Considerations
- !No water available anywhere in the campground.
- !The Sonoma Coast is not for swimming — strong rip currents, heavy surf and sudden ground swells make surf play dangerous.
- !The shale bluffs and rocks are unstable and unsafe for climbing — stay on trails and heed warning signs.
- !Swimming or wading in the Russian River is not recommended; it is treacherous due to submerged obstacles, uneven bottom and unpredictable current, with no lifeguard service.
- !Duncan's Landing is the most dangerous point along the Sonoma Coast due to large and unpredictable surf.
- !No trash service, which means food and trash must be managed carefully overnight.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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69°
52°
Mon
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75°
52°
Tue
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82°
54°
Wed
☀️
77°
51°
Thu
☀️
76°
49°
Fri
☀️
82°
53°
Sat
☁️
81°
52°
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 Demand1/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment1/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Anyone who wants a spontaneous coastal-redwood night with no reservation to chase, and hikers linking the campground to Shell Beach on the 3½-mile Pomo Canyon Trail.
Recommended Experience
None. Carry all your water, bring cash, and call ahead to confirm the season.
Not Recommended For
Dog owners, anyone who needs a guaranteed site on a summer weekend, and anyone without cash or a checkbook.
About This Permit
Pomo Canyon Campground offers 21 first-come, first-served primitive campsites, which are not on the reservation system. There are fire rings, picnic tables and porta-potty toilets. All of the walk-in campsites are within a quarter mile from the parking lot, and the campsites are shaded and located in a second growth redwood forest. To protect the wildlife, no dogs are allowed in the campground.
It is a dry campground — there is no running water and no water available, and there is no garbage service, so pack in and pack out all trash. You must self-register and pay prior to occupying a campsite; there is no credit card payment capability and fees are payable using cash or personal check. The rate is $25 per night.
The campground is seasonal. The park page lists Pomo Canyon simply as open or closed for the season rather than publishing calendar dates — it is marked open for the season as of August 2026. Call (707) 875-3483 to check before you drive out.
Fires are allowed only in the fire rings provided, and you may use your camp stove; fires are not permitted on the beach, and do not gather firewood in the park.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Pomo Canyon is 21 first-come, first-served walk-in sites you cannot book and do not have to. It is also the inland end of the 3½-mile Pomo Canyon Trail from Shell Beach, so you can walk here from the ocean.
The Route
Pomo Canyon Campground offers 21 first-come, first-served primitive campsites; these campsites are not on the reservation system. There are fire rings, picnic tables, and porta-potty toilets available. All of the walk-in campsites are within a quarter mile from the parking lot. There is no running water. The campsites are shaded and located in a second growth redwood forest.
You self-register and pay before occupying a campsite. There is no credit card payment capability — fees are payable using cash or personal check. Pomo Canyon Campground is a dry campground, which means there is no water available, and you pack in and pack out all trash as there is no garbage service in this area.
The walking is the reward. The Pomo Canyon Trail from the Shell Beach parking lot winds over the hill 3½ miles to the Pomo Canyon Campground. The Red Hill Trail Loop is 1.25 miles. Nearby, the Kortum Trail begins at Wright's Beach and travels north to Blind Beach.
The Feeling
Shaded second-growth redwood a couple of miles inland, quiet enough that the surf does not reach you. Then you walk over the hill and the whole Sonoma coastline opens up.
Trailhead Information
Pomo Canyon parking lot, Willow Creek Road
The parking area and self-registration point; every walk-in site is within a quarter mile.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Vehicles are only permitted to be parked in the parking lot. Camping in a vehicle in the parking area is not permitted. Two vehicles maximum per campsite; extra vehicle $10.00 per night. Self-register and pay before occupying a campsite — cash or personal check only, one envelope per vehicle.
Getting There
Approximately 2½ miles east of Highway 1 on Willow Creek Road, two miles beyond the Willow Creek campground turnoff. Maximum speed limit is 15 mph.
Nearest Services
Jenner. Park office: Sonoma Coast State Park, 3095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, (707) 875-3483.
Shell Beach parking lot
The coastal trailhead for the 3½-mile Pomo Canyon Trail over the hill to the campground.
Restrooms
No water
Getting There
On Highway 1 north of Wright's Beach.
Nearest Services
Jenner or Bodega Bay.
Rules & Regulations
- •Each campsite may have up to 8 persons including children. Two vehicles maximum are allowed per campsite.
- •Check-out time is noon. Check-in is 2 p.m.
- •Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may only be operated between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- •You may stay for a maximum of seven consecutive days per stay; no more than 30 days per year.
- •Fires are allowed only in the fire rings provided; you may use your camp stove. Do not gather firewood in the park.
- •Pets and dogs are not permitted on trails or in the environmental campgrounds, Pomo Canyon and Willow Creek.
- •Vehicles may not be driven into the campsites, and camping in a vehicle in the parking area is not permitted.
- •Use the self-registration system, selecting an available campsite and filling the envelope according to instructions. One envelope per vehicle.
- •The maximum speed limit is 15 mph.
- •Pack it in, pack it out — there is no trash service provided.
- •A parent or guardian must accompany youths under 18 years of age.
Gear Checklist
Required
- All your drinking and cooking water — this is a dry campground
- Cash or a personal check for self-registration
- Bags to pack out all trash
- Warm layers for coastal fog
- Camp stove or firewood brought in
Recommended
- A backup plan, since sites cannot be reserved and there are only 21 of them
- Headlamp for the walk from the lot after dark
- Rain shell outside high summer
- Long sleeves and long pants for trailside brush
- A phone call to (707) 875-3483 to confirm the camp is open for the season
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Pomo Canyon
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
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Key Landmarks
Pomo Canyon parking lot
Approximately 2½ miles east of Highway 1 on Willow Creek Road; all walk-in sites are within a quarter mile.
Pomo Canyon Campground
Twenty-one shaded primitive sites in second-growth redwood.
Shell Beach
The coastal end of the Pomo Canyon Trail, 3½ miles over the hill from the campground.
Red Hill Trail Loop
A 1.25-mile loop between the canyon and the coast.
Goat Rock
Near the mouth of the Russian River, home to a colony of harbor seals; stay at least 50 yards away, especially during pupping season March to August.
Safety & Planning
🚨
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Pomo Canyon.
🐻
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Pomo Canyon FAQ
How do I get a Pomo Canyon permit?
Pomo Canyon 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 Pomo Canyon?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Pomo Canyon permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Pomo Canyon 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
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Be the first to ask about Pomo Canyon.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
From the ridge on the Pomo Canyon Trail, where the coast and the Russian River mouth open up to the west.
Best Light
Morning fog moving through the second-growth redwoods around the campsites.
Beat the Crowds
First-come means arriving early on summer weekends, not avoiding crowds once you are there. Weekdays this campground is quiet.
Classic Shots
- 📍Redwood canopy over the campsites
- 📍The Sonoma coastline from the Pomo Canyon Trail ridge
- 📍The Russian River mouth at Goat Rock
- 📍Harbor seals on Goat Rock beach, from 50 yards
- 📍The Kortum Trail between Wright's Beach and Blind Beach
Can't Get a Pomo Canyon Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Willow Creek Environmental Campground
Same AreaEleven first-come primitive sites half a mile east of Highway 1 on Willow Creek Road, with pit toilets and two accessible campsites.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Closer to Highway 1 and to the Russian River, with a beach nearby. About half the sites, so it fills faster.
Steep Ravine Environmental Campground
Similar ExperienceSeven primitive walk-in sites on a marine terrace one mile south of Stinson Beach.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Directly above the Pacific rather than inland in redwood, with restrooms and water faucets nearby. But it is reservable rather than first-come.
Bear Harbor Camp
Similar ExperienceA walk-in environmental camp on the Lost Coast in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Far wilder and far more remote — the park warns its roads may be impassable in wet weather, and there is no potable water anywhere in the park.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Pomo Canyon trip
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