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.”
Plan your Sinkyone Wilderness State Park trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
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 alert on.
Orchard permit season
- route distance, out and back
- 2.7mi
How to get an Orchard permit
No reservation. You get the permit when you arrive.
Arrive at Needle Rock Visitor Center (Briceland Road)
Fill in the permit and pay
See the fees below.
Head out
Sinkyone trailheads and fees
- Needle Rock Visitor Center (Briceland Road)
Sinkyone trailhead in full
Primary
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. About 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.
As of September 2026, Orchard in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, California requires a permit issued via walk-up. Orchard rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The Orchard route covers 2.7 miles, rated moderate.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Lost Coast, CA
How this permit is issued
Get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone.
Official permit page →Step 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.
Step 2: Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served. Where the agency sets a daily quota, popular trailheads can run out on weekends and holidays.
Step 3: Have backup plans
Popular trailheads fill fast. Know alternate routes or dates.
More on Orchard: Live availability activity
How much an Orchard permit costs
Orchard permit fee: $5 per person per night (pay at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock).
The Orchard hike
- Distance
- 2.7 miles
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Orchard landmarks
- 1Needle Rock Visitor Center
The park hub and fee point, 2.7 miles north of Orchard Camp along Briceland Road.
- 2Orchard Camp
An environmental camp with about five parking places nearby.
- 3Bear Harbor
Further south, the largest and most protected cove in the park and the hinge of the Lost Coast Trail.
- 4Roosevelt elk range
The coastal prairies where the herd relocated from Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park can be seen roaming.
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.
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 about 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 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 about 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.
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 feeling
Coastal prairie backed by Douglas fir, where the park's Roosevelt elk roam the grasslands.
Orchard hike highlights
- The southernmost point of the drivable Briceland Road, in summer only
- About 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
How hard the Orchard hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required2/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
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.
When to hike Orchard
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.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
84°
62°
Wed
82°
67°
Thu
77°
64°
Fri
80°
64°
Sat
80°
66°
Sun
79°
66°
Mon
79°
65°
Orchard photography 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
Orchard rules, gear and safety
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 gear
- 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
Rules & regulations
- 01Environmental camps and horse camps cost $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail.
- 02Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed on trails.
- 03Store food and any scented items in a bear canister when camping; items may also be stored in a locked car.
- 04Haul out your own trash. There is no trash service in the park.
- 05Due to rough driving conditions, large trailers and RVs are not recommended.
- 06Day use areas open sunrise to sunset; day-use parking is $8 per vehicle per day.
- 07No trails in this park are Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible.
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.
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.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Orchard · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Orchard FAQ
How do I get a Orchard permit?
Orchard is issued directly by the agency. It is issued in person or by phone, so there is no reservation to book and no cancellation to catch. Bring backup dates and check their page for the current process.
When is the best time to visit Orchard?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays 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?
The agency awards this permit directly. Bring backup dates and check the official page for the current process and any closures.
Orchard trail conditions and trip reports
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 ReportAlternatives to an Orchard permit
- Same AreaNo permit needed
Bear Harbor Camp
An environmental camp on the largest and most protected cove in the park, further south and accessible by Briceland Road except in the rainy season.
Tradeoffs
A real cove and beach, and the hinge of the Lost Coast Trail. Further along the same seasonal road.
- Same AreaNo permit needed
Streamside Camp
An environmental camp a short walk from the Needle Rock Visitor Center, on the year-round-maintained section of road.
Tradeoffs
Reachable when the southern road section is closed, and close to the camp hosts. Less remote in feel.
- Easier AlternativeNo permit needed
Usal Beach Camp
Thirty free drive-in campsites on a black sand beach at the park's southern end.
Tradeoffs
Drive-in, free and reached from a different road entirely, so it is an option when Briceland Road is shut.
Where to stay near Orchard
- Richardson Grove Sp Madrone Campground (sites 37-76)Richardson Grove SP
- Richardson Grove Sp Madrone Cabin Area campgroundRichardson Grove SP
- Richardson Grove Sp Huckleberry Campground (sites 1-36)Richardson Grove SP
- All California campgrounds
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