Environmental campground near the coast. Not on the reservation system: self-register and pay on site.
“Eleven first-come walk-in sites shaded by willows near the Russian River, the only state park campground located near it.”
Plan your Sonoma Coast State Park trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get Willow Creek
Willow Creek 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.
Willow Creek permit season
- route distance, out and back
- 0.25mi
- max group size
- 8people
How to get a Willow Creek permit
No reservation. You get the permit when you arrive.
Arrive at Willow Creek parking lot, Willow Creek Road
Fill in the permit and pay
See the fees below.
Head out
1 to 7 nights is typical.
Sonoma Coast trailheads and fees
- Willow Creek parking lot, Willow Creek Road
Sonoma Coast trailhead in full
Primary
Willow Creek parking lot, Willow Creek RoadThe parking area and self-registration point; all campsites are within a quarter mile.
- Restrooms
- No water
Parking
Vehicles are only permitted 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 with cash or check only. There is no credit card payment capability. One envelope per vehicle.
Getting there
About half a mile east of Highway 1 on Willow Creek Road. Maximum speed limit 15 mph.
Nearest services
Jenner. Park office: Sonoma Coast State Park, 3095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, (707) 875-3483.
As of September 2026, Willow Creek in Sonoma Coast State Park, California requires a permit issued via walk-up. Willow Creek rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The Willow Creek route covers 0.25 miles, rated easy.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Sonoma 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 Willow Creek: Live availability activity
How much a Willow Creek permit costs
Willow Creek permit fee: $25 per night (self-register on site; cash or check only).
The Willow Creek hike
- Distance
- 0.25 miles
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-7 nights
- Difficulty
- Easy
Willow Creek landmarks
- 1Willow Creek parking lot
About half a mile east of Highway 1 on Willow Creek Road; every site is within a quarter mile.
- 2Willow Creek Campground
Eleven primitive sites shaded by willows, two of them accessible.
- 3Russian River
The camp is the only state park campground located near it. Swimming or wading is not recommended.
- 4Goat Rock
Near the mouth of the Russian River, with a harbor seal colony; stay at least 50 yards back, especially during pupping season March to August.
- 5Pomo Canyon Campground
Two miles further along Willow Creek Road, with 21 sites in second-growth redwood.
Eleven first-come walk-in sites shaded by willows near the Russian River, the only state park campground located near it.
About this permit
When open, Willow Creek Campground offers 11 first-come first-served primitive campsites with fire rings, picnic tables and pit toilets. All of the walk-in campsites are within a quarter mile from the parking lot and there is no running water. It is the only state park campground located near the Russian River, with sites mostly shaded by willows and relatively close to a large beach for swimming and fishing. Willow Creek has two accessible campsites.
These sites are not on the reservation system and are first-come, first-served only. You must self-register prior to occupying a campsite; there is no credit card payment capability and fees are payable with cash or check, at $25 per night. It is a dry campground with no water available, and you pack in and pack out all trash.
The camp is seasonal, and it is marked open for the season as of August 2026. Call (707) 875-3483 before you drive out.
To protect the wildlife, no dogs are allowed on the entrance road or in the campground. Upper Willow Creek access is limited to current permit holders and no new permits are being issued.
The route
When open, Willow Creek Campground offers 11 first-come first-served primitive campsites. There are fire rings, picnic tables, and pit toilets available. All of the walk-in campsites are within a quarter mile from the parking lot and there is no running water. This is the only state park campground located near the Russian River. The sites are mostly shaded by willows and are relatively close to a large beach for swimming and fishing.
The park adds that blue heron, egrets, osprey, and occasionally river otters can be seen by the river. To protect the wildlife, no dogs are allowed. These sites are not on the reservation system and are first-come, first-served only.
You must self-register prior to occupying a campsite; there is no credit card payment capability, and fees are payable with cash or check. Willow Creek Campground is a dry campground, which means there is no water available. Pack in and pack out all trash. Two campsites are accessible.
Why it matters
Willow Creek is the smaller of Sonoma Coast's two environmental campgrounds, half a mile off Highway 1, and it is the only state park campground located near the Russian River. Two of its sites are accessible, which is rare in a first-come walk-in camp.
The feeling
Willows and river rather than redwood and ridge. Blue heron, egrets, osprey and occasionally river otters work the water a short walk from the tent.
Willow Creek hike highlights
- Eleven first-come sites you cannot reserve
- Fire rings, picnic tables and pit toilets
- No running water: a dry campground
- Two accessible campsites
- A walk of no more than a quarter mile from the parking lot
- Cash or check only, self-registered on arrival
How hard the Willow Creek hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required1/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route1/5
Best for: Anyone who wants a riverside night with no reservation to chase, birdwatchers, and campers who need one of the two accessible sites.
Recommended experience: None. Carry all your water and bring cash.
Not recommended for: Dog owners, groups, horse parties, and anyone who needs certainty: eleven sites cannot be held.
When to hike Willow Creek
Best time to visit
Late spring through early autumn, while the camp is open for the season. Autumn gives the clearest coastal weather and the least competition for eleven unreservable sites. Call the park for dates before you drive out.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Day 5: Extreme heat (95°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 7: Extreme heat (95°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
89°
55°
Wed
84°
64°
Thu
75°
57°
Fri
91°
58°
Sat
95°
64°
Sun
93°
64°
Mon
95°
65°
Willow Creek photography guide
Golden Hour
Evening on the Russian River, looking toward the mouth and Goat Rock.
Best Light
Early morning on the water, before wind, when herons and egrets are feeding.
Beat the Crowds
Eleven sites go quickly on summer weekends. Midweek and shoulder season it is often near-empty.
Classic Shots
- Willows over the campsites
- Egrets and blue heron on the Russian River
- The river mouth at Goat Rock
- River otters, if you are lucky and quiet
- Fog burning off the lower river valley
Willow Creek rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- All your drinking and cooking water: this is a dry campground
- Cash or a check for self-registration
- Bags to pack out all trash
- Warm layers for river-valley fog
- Camp stove or firewood brought in
Recommended gear
- An early arrival on summer weekends; eleven sites go fast
- Binoculars for herons, egrets, osprey and river otters
- Headlamp for the short walk from the lot
- Insect repellent for a willow-shaded riverside camp
- A call to (707) 875-3483 to confirm the season
Rules & regulations
- 01Each campsite may have up to 8 persons including children. Two vehicles maximum are allowed per campsite.
- 02Check-out time is noon. Check-in is 2 p.m.
- 03Quiet 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.
- 04You may stay for a maximum of seven consecutive days per stay; no more than 30 days per year.
- 05Fires are allowed only in the fire rings provided; you may use your camp stove. Fires are not permitted on the beach, and do not gather firewood in the park.
- 06Pets and dogs are not permitted on trails or in the environmental campgrounds. No dogs on the entrance road or in the campground.
- 07No group camping available. No horses.
- 08Vehicles may not be driven into the campsites, and camping in a vehicle in the parking area is not permitted.
- 09Use the self-registration system; one envelope per vehicle.
- 10Pack it in, pack it out: there is no trash service provided.
- 11A parent or guardian must accompany youths under 18 years of age.
Hazards & considerations
- No water available anywhere in the campground.
- Swimming or wading in the Russian River is not recommended; the river is treacherous due to submerged obstacles, uneven bottom and unpredictable current, with no lifeguard service available.
- 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.
- No trash service, so food and trash must be managed overnight.
- Seasonal operation with no published dates.
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Willow Creek.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Willow Creek · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Willow Creek FAQ
How do I get a Willow Creek permit?
Willow Creek 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 Willow Creek?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Willow Creek permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Willow Creek permit?
The agency awards this permit directly. Bring backup dates and check the official page for the current process and any closures.
Willow Creek 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 Willow Creek.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Willow Creek permit
- Same AreaNo permit needed
Pomo Canyon Environmental Campground
Twenty-one first-come sites in second-growth redwood, two miles further east on Willow Creek Road.
Tradeoffs
Nearly twice the sites and a shaded redwood setting, plus a 3½-mile trail to Shell Beach. But it is further from the river and the coast.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Steep Ravine Environmental Campground
Seven primitive walk-in sites on a marine terrace one mile south of Stinson Beach, with restrooms and water faucets nearby.
Tradeoffs
It has water, and it sits directly above the Pacific. But it is reservable rather than first-come, and holds only seven sites.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Usal Beach Camp
A drive-in primitive camp at the southern end of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, near the park's black sand beaches.
Tradeoffs
Far wilder. But the access road is about six miles of unpaved, steep, narrow driving, and there is no potable water in the park.
Where to stay near Willow Creek
- Sonoma Coast State Park Wright's Beach (sites 1-27) campgroundSonoma Coast State Park
- Sonoma Coast State Park Bodega Dunes campgroundSonoma Coast State Park
- Austin Creek Sra Tom King campgroundAustin Creek SRA
- All California campgrounds
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