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Wheeler Camp wilderness permit area in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park - backcountry hiking destination
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Wheeler Camp Permit

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park · California

Hike-in environmental camp on the Lost Coast Trail. Pay on site, no reservations.

“A hike-in camp at Jackass Creek where the Hotel Gulch trail from Usal Beach ends at the Lost Coast Trail. No road reaches it.”

Plan your Sinkyone Wilderness State Park trip here, then get your permit from the agency.

Walk-up permit

How to get Wheeler

Wheeler is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.

Official permit page

Planning another trip? See the permits we alert on.

How to get a Wheeler permit

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 →

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Step 3: Have backup plans

    Popular trailheads fill fast. Know alternate routes or dates.

Official permit page at California State Parks
Learn more:

More on Wheeler: Live availability activity

How much a Wheeler permit costs

Wheeler permit fee: $5 per person per night (pay at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock).

The Wheeler hike

Route Type
Point to Point
Difficulty
Strenuous

Wheeler landmarks

  1. 1Usal Beach Campground

    The southern trailhead, and the start of both the Lost Coast Trail and the Hotel Gulch trail.

  2. 2Wheeler Camp

    At Jackass Creek, where the Hotel Gulch trail ends at its intersection with the Lost Coast Trail.

  3. 3Little Jackass Creek Camp

    A neighboring environmental camp along the Lost Coast Trail; its beach is a haul-out site for migrating California sea lions.

  4. 4Bear Harbor

    The northern end of the roadless trail section and the largest, most protected cove in the park.

A hike-in camp at Jackass Creek where the Hotel Gulch trail from Usal Beach ends at the Lost Coast Trail. No road reaches it.

About this permit

Wheeler Camp is a hike-in environmental camp at Jackass Creek, on the roadless section of the Lost Coast Trail between Usal Beach and Bear Harbor. Environmental camps do not offer drive-in access; the two primitive camps, Usal Beach and Needle Rock, are the only drive-in options in the park.

Two routes reach it. The Lost Coast Trail runs 22 miles within Sinkyone and remains a foot trail from Usal Beach Campground until it reaches Bear Harbor. Separately, the former Hotel Gulch Road extends from Usal Beach Campground to the Wheeler campsite at Jackass Creek, ending at the intersection with the Lost Coast Trail; it is also available for horses.

The park's 2006 general plan records four sites at Wheeler, and notes that environmental campsites along the Lost Coast Trail are equipped with a fire ring and vault toilets nearby. No current visitor publication breaks the park's inventory out by camp.

The agency's warning about this trail is explicit: though beautiful, this trail is rugged, strenuous, and not recommended for beginner backpackers or hikers. There is no potable water in the park and you haul out your own trash.

The route

Wheeler Camp, Little Jackass Creek Camp and Anderson Gulch Camp are environmental camps located along the Lost Coast Trail, between Usal Beach and Bear Harbor. Environmental camps do not offer drive-in access.

There is a second way in. The second longest hiking trail in the park is the former Hotel Gulch Road, which extends from the southern end of the park at Usal Beach Campground to the Wheeler campsite at Jackass Creek where the trail ends at the intersection with the Lost Coast Trail. The Hotel Gulch trail is also available for horses from Usal Beach Campground to Wheeler, and the 2024 park map shows both the environmental and horse-camp symbols at Wheeler.

The park's 2006 general plan records four sites at Wheeler and notes that environmental campsites along the Lost Coast Trail are equipped with a fire ring and vault toilets nearby.

Why it matters

Wheeler sits on the roadless section of the Lost Coast Trail inside Sinkyone, between Usal Beach and Bear Harbor. The park describes that trail as rugged, strenuous, and not recommended for beginner backpackers or hikers, and Wheeler is where you find out whether it meant it.

The feeling

A former mill town site where the forest has taken everything back. Steep ground down to the creek, Douglas fir above, and the ocean audible below.

Wheeler hike highlights

  1. A roadless camp on the Lost Coast Trail
  2. A fire ring and vault toilets nearby, per the park's general plan
  3. $5 per person per night, paid at Jones Beach gate, Needle Rock, or by mail
  4. No potable water anywhere in the park
  5. Horse access via the Hotel Gulch trail from Usal Beach
  6. A trail the agency calls rugged, strenuous and not for beginners

How hard the Wheeler hike is

  • Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
  • Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
  • Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential4/5
  • NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route5/5

Best for: Experienced backpackers walking the Sinkyone section of the Lost Coast Trail, and riders using the Hotel Gulch trail from Usal Beach.

Recommended experience: Multi-day backcountry experience on steep, rough trail with no resupply, no potable water and no reliable communications.

Not recommended for: Beginner backpackers: the agency says so directly. Anyone without a bear canister, anyone relying on a phone, and anyone who cannot carry or treat all their water.

Trailhead information

Usal Beach Campground

Primary

The southern trailhead for both the Lost Coast Trail and the Hotel Gulch trail to Wheeler. The trail remains a foot trail until it reaches Bear Harbor.

  • Restrooms
  • No water

Parking

No fees at Usal Beach. Camping fees for environmental camps are $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail. Large trailers and RVs are not recommended.

Getting There

About one hour north of Ft Bragg on PCH or 15 miles west of Leggett; look for mile marker 90.88, then turn north for about 6 miles on an unpaved, steep, narrow road. Usal Road is closed in winter.

Nearest Services

Leggett or Fort Bragg.

Trailhead information

Needle Rock Visitor Center (northern access)

Alternate

The northern approach via Bear Harbor, where the trail resumes as a foot path south.

  • Restrooms
  • No water

Parking

Day-use parking $8 per vehicle per day. Fees payable here or at Jones Beach gate.

Getting There

36 miles southwest of Garberville or Redway on Briceland Road; the last 3.5 miles are unpaved, steep and narrow, and the road is closed in winter.

Nearest Services

Garberville or Redway.

When to hike Wheeler

Best time to visit

Summer and early autumn, when both access roads are open and the trail is driest. Usal Road and Briceland Thorn Road are both closed in winter.

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

Today

☀️

85°

62°

Wed

☀️

82°

67°

Thu

☁️

78°

65°

Fri

☁️

80°

64°

Sat

☁️

80°

66°

Sun

☁️

80°

67°

Mon

☀️

79°

65°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

Wheeler photography guide

Golden Hour

The bluffs above Jackass Creek at sunset, where the trail opens out of the forest.

Best Light

Late summer and early autumn.

Beat the Crowds

No road reaches Wheeler. The park's own description of the trail as rugged, strenuous and not for beginners does the rest.

Classic Shots

  1. The Lost Coast Trail dropping through Douglas fir toward the creek
  2. Sea lions hauled out on the beach at Jackass Creek
  3. The steep, forested descent that defines this section
  4. Fog pouring over the ridge above camp
  5. The trail junction where Hotel Gulch meets the Lost Coast Trail

Wheeler rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • All your drinking water, or a filter and a plan for creek sources: the park has no potable water
  • A bear canister for food and scented items
  • Full trash carry-out capacity
  • Boots for steep, rugged trail
  • Warm, waterproof layers for a fog-bound coast

Recommended gear

  • A tide table, since shoreline sections of this coast are tide-dependent
  • Trekking poles for steep descents to creek crossings
  • A satellite messenger: cellphone connectivity is limited and help may take hours
  • Feed for horses, if riding in via Hotel Gulch
  • An itinerary left with someone at home

Rules & regulations

  1. 01Environmental camps and horse camps cost $5 per person per night, payable at Jones Beach gate or Needle Rock, or by mail.
  2. 02Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed on trails.
  3. 03Store food and any scented items in a bear canister when camping; items may also be stored in a locked car.
  4. 04Haul out your own trash. There is no trash service in the park.
  5. 05Day use areas open sunrise to sunset.
  6. 06No trails in this park are Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible.
  7. 07Because the Lost Coast Trail crosses land managed by both BLM and California State Parks, regulations for trail use and camping differ between them.

Hazards & considerations

  • The Lost Coast Trail here is rugged, strenuous, and not recommended for beginner backpackers or hikers.
  • 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, even for experts.
  • There is no potable water in the park.
  • Black bears: a bear canister is required for food and scented items.
  • Access roads at both ends are seasonal and can be impassable in wet weather.

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Wheeler.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Wheeler · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

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Wheeler FAQ

How do I get a Wheeler permit?

Wheeler 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 Wheeler?

Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.

How competitive is the Wheeler permit?

This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.

What if I can't get a Wheeler permit?

The agency awards this permit directly. Bring backup dates and check the official page for the current process and any closures.

Wheeler trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

No active conditions reported

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Questions

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Trip Reports

Write Report

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Write the First Report

Alternatives to a Wheeler permit

  • Same AreaNo permit needed

    Little Jackass Creek Camp

    The next environmental camp north along the Lost Coast Trail, whose beach is a haul-out site for migrating California sea lions.

    Tradeoffs

    Equally remote and equally roadless, with better wildlife. No horse access.

  • Same AreaNo permit needed

    Bear Harbor Camp

    The northern end of the roadless section, on the largest and most protected cove in the park.

    Tradeoffs

    Reachable by Briceland Road except in the rainy season, which makes it far easier to get to.

  • Easier AlternativeNo permit needed

    Usal Beach Camp

    Thirty free drive-in campsites on a black sand beach at the trail's southern terminus.

    Tradeoffs

    Drive-in and free, and the staging point for the walk to Wheeler. But it sees the most use in the park.

Where to stay near Wheeler

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