Best Equestrian Camping near Covelo, CA

This campground is very beautiful, located just north of Fort Bragg on the California coast. I witnessed the best sunset that I have ever seen in my life at this beach. However, I was unfortunate to get one campground with no trees or privacy. Additionally, this campground is more expensive than some other state parks and has limited things to explore. Also, the showers require more money to start, so if you run out of time during your shower you will need at least a dollar just to start it back up to finish rinsing off not like other State park showers. If you want to explore the area there are tons of other things too see... Including Fort Bragg, glass beach, the skunk train, Russian gulch, the town of Mendocino, Mendocino headlands, and a pigmy Forest

We stayed one night here in early October, after exploring the Mendocino area on a campervan road trip. Campsite was quiet and secluded, lots of trees so was pretty quiet and private. Clean bathrooms, drinking water was right next to our site. There were hiking trails right nearby, but sadly we arrived fairly late and were leaving the next morning so we didn't get to do much exploring. Area was pretty damp so a little chilly because of that. there were giant yellow banana slugs all over, which was pretty neat to see. Site had a picnic table and fire ring. Lots of open sites when we arrived (mid week in early Fall), no reservation needed. Convenient to explore Mendocino/Fort Bragg area, we took a walk around Mendocino and visited the glass beach. I would like to go back and explore the hiking there!

http://adventuresneaker.com/2017/03/23/california-road-trip-days-7-8-9-bodie-historic-ghost-town-lake-tahoe-russian-gulch-state-park/

General: Two campgrounds at this state park: Pinewood (closer to Route 1 and I did not explore) and Surfwood (closer to the ocean). No hookups (at least in Surfwood, I did not check in Pinewood). You can see beautiful sunsets from the road leading to the Surfwood campground. 

Site Quality: A few had concrete pads, but most had sand driveways. Most sites were very spacious; sites 122-124 are located on a roundabout and were very large and more private than some of the others. Most sites had a utility box, and all had a picnic table and a fire ring. Some had trees separating them from other sites. 

Bathhouse: An upgrade from other California state parks we've stayed in with hot water and tile floors. No dryer or towels so make sure you bring your own. Pay showers (beginning with$1.00 for five minutes; accepts up to 15 quarters). I did not use the shower so cannot comment on how well it worked. 

Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, and biking. There is a multi-use trail that leads south from the campground. The reason I chose this campground is I wanted to see Glass Beach, however, it was fenced off with “no trespassing” signs which was disappointing.

Very Cool place to Camp and Enjoy ! I've now been 3 times and each time its a little different and always Total Zen Peace to be had !

But make sure you only go during the week, because of the rowdiness, hell raising, dune driving doing donuts, drunken idiots that are there on the weekends.

I had researched this place once I had heard of the Lost coast, and read many stories of failed weekends ... So Every time I've gone its been camping tues-thurs....most times we've been the only people there.

We've always gone up north Hwy 1 to about 4 miles past Westport and turned left on USAL Rd, ( now some one painted a big arrow on the street pointing the way ) but the first few times the turn was a lil challenging to find... anyway take that USAL Rd and drive through the forest for about 5 miles, ( very easy dirt rd when dry, treacherous and challenging when wet 4x4 when it's wet for sure ) once through the forest stop and take pics , it's so beautiful 1000-2000 ft above the Ocean, watch for California Gray whales ! Anyway, once througfh the forest come down the hill and you'll drive right across a lil wodden bridge, take an immediate left to find camping spots and the beach is just beyond the camp sites !

It's so beautiful, peaceful and wonderful here. It will continue to be a favorite for my wife Jan and I for decades to come !

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PROS

→ Campground is adjacent to the beach. You can hear the ocean and sometimes catch peeks of the ocean from the campground.

→ Campsites have bear lockers. → Campground is pretty in the glow of sunlight. → There’s a trail to the beach and Laguna Point isn’t far.

→ The camp hosts are easy to approach in that they have an alert button you can press outside their rig and they will come outside. No wondering how to get their attention! We bought our shower tokens from the camp host.

→ This campground is protected by a buffer of coastal trees. It’s not nearly as windy at the campground as it is on the beach.

CONS

→ Showers require tokens. This seems pretty standard in California State Parks but it’s successful at deterring us from showering every night. One token gives 4 minutes of showering. Each token is $1. It’s not a lot for one-off trips but we are on a 6-week camping trip.

→ The dump station has a mandatory fee of $10. You pay with a credit card. When payment is approved, the cap to the dump hole unlocks. We didn’t use it. Again, it was successful at deterring us from using it. With pay showers we’d normal shower in the van and just run to the dump station daily to empty the tank but we didn’t. We paid for the showers. I know they are cost mitigating but it’s a factor when deciding on this campground especially if you camp a lot like us. (We are on a 6-week camping trip up the coast).

→ The shower water temperature is finicky in the women’s bathroom. When it’s just one person showering, it’s nice and hot. When two showers are going, the water temperature drops a bit. To me the temperature is important because it’s still 50° to 60° right now and I only get 8 minutes with the water. I need those 8 minutes to be comfortable not make me move faster than Speedy Gonzalez. For me this isn’t a huge concern but it is for my partner so that’s why I’m detailing it out.

→ Firewood is $10.

—————————— 4-stars - The campground is clean, enjoyable and has the camping vibe. Docking a star due to the extra fees and the water temperature. For weekend warriors I’d wager this is a 5-star campground!

[Rig. Mercedes Sprinter. 22 feet]

Dump station? - Yes, mandatory $10 Water fill? - Yes, free Clean site? - Yes Clean bathroom? - Yes Flush toilet? - Yes Showers? - Yes, token operated Laundry? - No Dish washing sink? - No

Take Forrest Route N17 off of Spouts Spring Rd.

What a sweet surprise after spending an hour on an unimproved wash board road.. This is an ideal Campground for those with OHV's. As you pass thru a off road vehicle area on way up to campsite.

Lett's Lake was closed due to a prior fire. But the upside is that the Forrest service has provided free stacks of wood.

Bring lots of water and drive a well running car. You don't want to get stuck out here!

Great camping with quite a few spots both in the aspens and in the grasslands by the beach. It was pretty buggy, and a long dirt road getting in, but as long as it's dry and you've got 4x4 you should be fine. Sites have quite a bit of trash, remember to pack out what you pack in.

This place is absolutely beautiful. But… lots people( this place has so many site we couldn’t even count them all, loud( bad ) music , loud trucks driving recklessly, Children crying, drunk folks whooping and hollerin into the wee hour of the night, dogs barkin and fighting,poop all around the camp site conveniently left unburied with the paper, trees used for ax throwing practice, tent stakes driven into trees, unattended fire pits smoldering , fire pits filled with garbage,fireworks, chainsaws running at all hours. Oh and let’s not forget the Gun fire on Saturday night then this is the place for you! Awakened Friday morning at 8 am to Nas x at volume 11 echoing the length of the valley was not in our plan but … we got very adept at setting up and breaking down camp as one is left with the impression your stuff might not still be there if you left it out and went for a hike Every night it was pack it all up and lock the car before bed

Basically this trip was a lesson in how crappy people can be in the forest

The few good parts Chorus of frogs in the evening Elk sleeping twenty feet from our camp site And meeting Jackie and Brea the world traveling dogs ( seriously these two pups have been to like six different countries) Jackie is maybe ten pounds and fearless, she saw the elk and was ready to chase it down as she had never seen one before

Having grown up spending a lot of time on the N Cali coast, Usal beach was always my absolute FAVORITE spot to camp! The secluded beach, elk roaming free and the enchanted forest always were a major incentive to go. The road is a little sketchy at times of the year so it's best to take a 4x4 if you can, however I've seen multiple people drive their cars in as well. It is definitely a popular spot for the locals to make day trips. Even when the campground is "busy", there have always been campsites available. Unfortunately there is no water source besides the creek, so make sure you bring enough fresh water for your stay. Be prepared to use pit toilets as well!!

Great to camp on the beach. Nice to enjoy campfire on the beach from wood provided by the sea. Some nice hikes close by.

This place is pretty cool. It’s worth a one night stay. The drive up 101 and then the couple mile “off road” drive to the beach was fun. There is a bunch of space for people to camp. Some on the beach and some in the tree line. There was about 5 other groups there. It got really cold at night and SUPER WINDY (December).

Awesome access to beach camping, if you dont like the wind you can camp in the trees. Nice hike around the area, good fishing, great times, and great views of the lost coast

Campsite is about 40 mins off rt 1 - rock/dirt roads up and down the hills until you get to the beach. Once you’re there though, PARADISE!! Totally worth it - camp in the little forest before the beach or right on the sand, shack toilets available but other than that pack in and pack out!

Really beautiful campground. I've now visited a few times, and every time I've gotten little sleep because of the partying. Keep coming back because of the scenery and the great mtb trails, but be prepared for people blasting terrible music all hours of the day and night. Plus the fireworks, loud trucks, and guns going off at all hours of the night. Feels like camping in the movie Mad Max...

On a weekend in august it was packed. Most camped on the beach, which was the reason I came, yet we ended up finding a spot inland with no neighbors. The road coming in is no joke, it took about 30-45 minutes on a bumpy dirt road. Even with 4x4 I would be hesitant to drive during heavy rain but when dry it’s passable by car. During a week day I think this place would be fantastic, but during a busy weekend it wasn’t a quiet get away by any means. 90% of the campers were fine but the other 10% are usually who gets a whole campground a bad name. Its what’s to be expected when you combine free state park camping with no policing. If you’re into “overlanding” this would be a great place to take a pic for instagram and pitch your roof top tent. I enjoyed myself a lot but I may be more relaxed about the riffraff than others. I have no good pictures but it was truly a beautiful place.

One of the coolest campgrounds I’ve ever visited (once my stomach settled from the steep, narrow, rocky, nerve-wracking 50-minute ride in). We stayed up top, apart from the actual campground, where the view was spectacular. The fog was magical.

I'm lucky enough to live within an hour from this amazing place. Granted it has no facilities as budgets have been hacked and slashed, but this isn't the kind of place for luxury camping. This is the kind of place that will renew your soul, it will make you feel alive and allow the stress of the everyday world to wash away.

Located off the far north end of hwy 1 you have to traverse a steep, winding and rutted dirt road for several miles until you break out of the forest to reveal a jaw dropping breath taking view of Usal beach.

During peak season the campsites can get a little busy as Usal serves as the southern most trail head for the Lost Coast Trail. But I have never not been able to get a camp site. Many times throughout the year I arrive to find myself the only visitor, and those are the times I cherish most. You may also find during the summer weekends local kids coming to drink and party. They can get noisy and rowdy but the area is spread out enough that funding a private camp is usually an option.

While camped at Usal it is very probable that you will see wild Elk. In fact the last time I was there we saw 6 massive Elk who hung out with us all day. Big time photo shoot :-)

I hope you get to experience this amazing, magical place!

I love this place it’s amazing,beautiful,rugged and so much fun to explore. It can be a little crazy at times but I hope it stays the way it is. I just hope people start talking care of it better

This was such a unique camping experience. The pictures do all of the talking. The road to reach the beach is only about 5 miles long, but It will take you around 45 minutes! We felt like we were driving through Jurassic park to get there. Speaking of Jurassic park, you will need a decent clearance vehicle. We have an overland tent on a truck so we were having a blast! Will definitely return. Hopefully next time will see some elk because we weren’t lucky this time :)

The Lost Coast as a whole is a great choice for a camping trip. The trails are a bit overgrown, but the views are unreal! The Usal Beach campsite is an awesome campsite. Some people in our group camped on the sand (got a bit windy at night), some in the meadow a bit more inland and even one guy set up his hammock tent in the trees- lots of great options!

I’m hesitant to tell anybody about this gem because I want it to remain as peaceful and perfect as it is. There is a toilet and there are fire rings. There are some established spots off the beach or you can set up right on the beach (does it get any better???) If you’re going to do the lost coast, this is the way to do it. Plan on packing everything you need in and out!

At least in Dec, very muddy. Would not advise without 4x4 and some experience.

We got here in an unmodified 2000 ford explorer with traction tires, but it was near that rig’s limit.

Would be a lot more comfortable with some recovery gear

Been camping at Richardson Grove RV Park for the past 20+ years. It’s a large campground and great for large groups our group is usually about 60+ people :). Having the gas station right next to the campground is great since you ca. Go buy anything you need / run out of such as sodas and beer oh and ice also. During the July hot days we like to cross HWY 101 and go take a dip in the eel river. The campground has bathrooms and showers but over the years the maintenance have dropped