Hike-in environmental camp on the Lost Coast Trail. Pay on site, no reservations.
“An environmental camp on the southern end of Briceland Road, and absent from the park's current map.”
Plan your Sinkyone Wilderness State Park trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get Railroad
Railroad 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.
How to get a Railroad 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 for the Briceland Road camps. Confirm Railroad Camp's status here before setting out.
- Restrooms
- No water
Parking
Day-use parking $8 per vehicle per day. Camping fees $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail. Several parking places at the visitor center and about five 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. The road is narrow, subject to washouts, and closed during the rainy season.
Nearest services
Garberville or Redway, 36 miles away.
- 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 Railroad: Live availability activity
How much a Railroad permit costs
Railroad permit fee: $5 per person per night (pay at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock).
The Railroad hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Railroad landmarks
- 1Needle Rock Visitor Center
The park hub and fee point; confirm current camp status here.
- 2Orchard Camp
2.7 miles south of Needle Rock by road, with about five parking places.
- 3Bear Harbor
The largest and most protected cove in the park, at the site of a former logging settlement.
- 4Lost Coast Trail
From Bear Harbor to Needle Rock the trail follows Briceland Road, then resumes as a hiking trail north of Needle Rock.
An environmental camp on the southern end of Briceland Road, and absent from the park's current map.
About this permit
Railroad Camp is one of the environmental campsites the park's 2006 Preliminary General Plan and Draft EIR describes as easily reachable from the southern end of Briceland Road, together with Orchard Camp and Bear Harbor Camp. That document records three sites here, and it is the only agency source that publishes per-camp counts.
One caution matters more than any amenity detail: Railroad Camp does not appear on the park's current 2024 map, which labels the other camps individually. Because there is no online reservation system for Sinkyone and no cell service in the park, confirm the camp's status at the Needle Rock Visitor Center or by contacting the park before committing to it.
Sinkyone offers eight environmental camps, two horse camps, and two primitive camps. Environmental camps do not offer drive-in access and cost $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail.
The park's constants apply: no potable water, haul out your own trash, and roads impassable for passenger cars when wet.
The route
Railroad Camp is listed in the park's 2006 Preliminary General Plan and Draft EIR as one of the environmental campsites easily reachable from the southern end of Briceland Road, together with Orchard Camp and Bear Harbor Camp. The same document records three sites here.
It does not appear on the park's 2024 information sheet map, which labels Jones Beach, Streamside, Needle Rock, Orchard, Bear Harbor, Wheeler, Little Jackass Creek, Anderson and Usal Beach. Confirm the camp's current status at the Needle Rock Visitor Center before relying on it.
Briceland Road enters the park from the north at Four Corners and continues south 3.5 miles to Needle Rock, and 2.7 miles further to Orchard Camp. 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 is closed during the rainy season.
Why it matters
Railroad Camp appears in the park's 2006 general plan alongside Orchard and Bear Harbor as the environmental campsites easily reachable from the southern end of Briceland Road. It does not appear on the 2024 park map, so ask the park before you drive 36 miles of increasingly rough road to look for it.
The feeling
Douglas fir and coastal prairie above a shoreline that swallowed an entire logging economy. The park's own history notes little surface evidence remains.
Railroad hike highlights
- An environmental camp with no drive-in access
- $5 per person per night, paid on site or by mail
- A camp not shown on the park's current map: ask the park about it before you plan around it
- No potable water anywhere in the park
- Vault toilets in developed use areas
- A road closed during the rainy season and subject to washouts
How hard the Railroad hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential4/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity4/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Lost Coast regulars who already know this park and want its emptiest corner, and who will confirm the camp's status with a ranger first.
Recommended experience: Enough familiarity with Sinkyone to verify a camp before driving to it, plus full backcountry self-sufficiency.
Not recommended for: First-time visitors: pick a camp that appears on the current map. Also unsuitable for low-clearance vehicles in wet weather and anyone needing water on site.
When to hike Railroad
Best time to visit
Summer, when Briceland Road is open from Needle Rock to Orchard Camp as conditions allow. The road is closed during the rainy season, which effectively closes this section of the park.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Tomorrow: 94% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
- Day 3: 86% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
75°
66°
32%
Wed
73°
64°
94%
Thu
68°
58°
86%
Fri
58°
51°
Sat
79°
55°
Sun
68°
47°
Mon
74°
51°
Railroad photography guide
Golden Hour
The bluffs south of Needle Rock at sunset, where the road runs closest to the sea.
Best Light
Late summer and early autumn.
Beat the Crowds
The road south of Needle Rock opens only in summer when conditions allow, and closes entirely in the rainy season.
Classic Shots
- Briceland Road running the bluff line
- Roosevelt elk on the coastal prairies
- Douglas fir shrouded in fog
- Sea stacks off the Sinkyone shoreline
Railroad 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 you are stranded
Recommended gear
- A confirmation of the camp's status before you drive
- Cash or a check for the per-person fee
- A paper map and an itinerary left at home
- High-clearance vehicle for a road subject to washouts
- 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
- Railroad Camp does not appear on the park's current map. Ask the park about its status before you plan around it.
- Sinkyone Wilderness SP is one of the most remote parks in California. In an emergency situation, help may not arrive for hours.
- Cellphone connectivity is limited and hiking on the shoreline can be dangerous.
- There is no potable water in the park.
- Briceland Road is narrow, subject to washouts, and is closed during the rainy season.
- Black bears: a bear canister or locked car is required.
- Mudslides or fallen trees have kept visitors an extra day or two.
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Railroad.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Railroad · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Railroad FAQ
How do I get a Railroad permit?
Railroad 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 Railroad?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Railroad permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Railroad permit?
The agency awards this permit directly. Bring backup dates and check the official page for the current process and any closures.
Railroad 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 Railroad.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Railroad permit
- Same AreaNo permit needed
Orchard Camp
An environmental camp 2.7 miles south of Needle Rock, on the current park map with about five parking places nearby.
Tradeoffs
The same stretch of Briceland Road but confirmed on current agency maps, which makes it the safer plan.
- Same AreaNo permit needed
Bear Harbor Camp
An environmental camp on the largest and most protected cove in the park, at the site of a former logging settlement.
Tradeoffs
A sheltered cove, a beach and the hinge of the Lost Coast Trail, and it is on the current map.
- 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 unambiguously open, though reached by a completely different road from the south.
Where to stay near Railroad
- Methodist Cove campgroundHarlan County Lake
- Hunter Cove campgroundHarlan County Lake
- All California campgrounds
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