Best Dispersed Camping near Little River, CA
Usal Beach Campground offers primitive coastal camping where the forest meets the Pacific along California's North Coast. A challenging 30-45 minute drive on a rough, unpaved road requires vehicles with good clearance, particularly when wet. Four-wheel drive is highly recommended as the access road contains steep grades, narrow passages, and large ruts. The campground provides dispersed sites either directly on the beach or tucked into the adjacent wooded areas, with only a single vault toilet available.
Several BLM-managed dispersed camping areas exist within driving distance of Little River. Sheldon Creek features 3-5 free primitive sites along a creek with vault toilets and fire pits. The dirt access road is manageable for most vehicles, though not recommended for trailers. Cow Mountain Recreation Area offers more remote dispersed camping suitable for off-road enthusiasts with capable vehicles. Mayacmas Campground provides free camping but reviews note extremely steep terrain that may be challenging for standard vehicles. All sites enforce the standard 14-day camping limit. A review mentioned, "The road was a bit rougher than expected, took us roughly 45 minutes from the paved road to camp."
