Usal Beach Campground

Lost Coast Camping, NorCal

The USA Lumber Company ran a big wood mill on this part of the redwood coast back in the early days. This camp's name gets shortened to USAL.

Usal Beach Campground

near Shelter Cove, California

This idyllic prime yet primitive, hard-to-reach beach campground is tucked well away from the crowds along the Pacific Coastal Hwy 1. 

The region is California BLM land King Range National Conservation Area, or better known as the Lost Coast of California... a famous stretch of wilderness coastline in between Mendocino and the Humboldt Redwoods. Dense forests and steep terrain located on the county line of Mendocino & Humboldt. Sinkyone Wilderness State Park is nearby.

Usal Camp is the only place for drive-up car camping on the beach front in Northern Cal. All other developed camps in the area are located further inland (with forested surroundings), or backpacking, hike-in primitive campsites.

Usal Campground on Usal Creek, has several idyllic settings to pitch a tent. Choose from sites situated in dense, sheltered alder groves, some camp spots hidden in redwoods groves, or camp straight on the sandy beach next to the cliffs, but expect serious wind out there.

Northern California Coast Camping -
25 camp sites on Lost Coast @ 50' elevation
fee, vault toilet, picnic tables, Sinkyone Wilderness
first come, first served camping

Max Camper Length: 0
RV, motorhomes, camper trailers are not advised

Sinkyone Rangers Office:
707-986-7711

There are no major amenities but picnic tables are abundant. Spacious camp sites with access to beach, cliffs, forest, hiking trails. Some fire rings are provided. Good luck finding the toilet facilities, so bring your shovel for emergencies.

Mendocino Co Road #431

 The only access route is a one lane dirt road that can be steep in certain spots. Trailers, RVs & motorhomes are not advised. Mendocino County Route #431 (dirt road) is max 25 mph, but the locals tend to drive it faster. A scenic, forested, narrow road that is not maintained during winter months. 4WD may be needed in wet months, but most of the time a passenger car can access.

Just north of Fort Bragg when Highway 1 peels away from the coast and heads east (to meet up w/ US 101); immediately at coastline curve towards inland, the left turn on to dirt comes up real quick. Slow down to expect it and try not to be driving over 50 mph. This back road parallels the coast on cliffs for a short while and the campground turn-off is about 5 miles north of this point. Campground is south of Shelter Cove and west of Leggett, CA. Garberville is also close by.

Wild blackberries found in summer at Usal Campground.