G
Grace P.
Scout
ScoutUsal Beach Campground
4x4 needed but easy drive
Beautiful. Not too many people. I would only take a 4x4x
Dispersed Camping near Piercy, CA
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Dispersed camping around Piercy, California concentrates primarily at Usal Beach and its overlook area along the northern California coastline. These sites offer primitive camping with minimal facilities on public lands. Usal Beach Campground provides beach and wooded camping options while the nearby Usal Beach Overlook features more exposed sites with views. The more remote Grizzly Flat Dispersed Campground requires hiking access and lies inland near Covelo. Boardman Ridge Campground represents another primitive option in the region, though with limited documented visitor information.
Access to these dispersed sites typically requires navigating challenging roads. The route to Usal Beach involves a rough, unpaved mountain road with steep grades, ruts, and narrow sections that takes approximately 30-45 minutes to traverse from Highway 1. High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended, particularly during wet conditions when roads may become impassable. According to one visitor, "You will need at least a quarter of a foot of clearance to make it up the road, it is IMPASSABLE if the road is wet." While AWD or 4WD vehicles are preferable, some campers report reaching the sites in standard vehicles with careful driving, though this isn't advised during rainy periods.
The camping experience combines coastal and forest environments with notable privacy despite occasional crowds. Campers at Usal Beach can choose between beachfront sites or more sheltered forest locations, both offering Pacific Ocean views. A visitor noted that "even with the number of other parties near us, we were still able to find a fairly secluded spot." The area features minimal facilities—Usal Beach Campground has a single pit toilet, while other sites lack amenities entirely. Cell service is generally unavailable, requiring visitors to be self-sufficient. Wildlife sightings are common, with reports of coyotes and bear tracks. Campfires are permitted at some locations, though the beach areas often have limited natural firewood. All sites follow true dispersed camping principles requiring visitors to pack out all waste.
Best Dispersed Campgrounds near Piercy (5)
1. Usal Beach Campground
"It was easy to find the access road by the mile marker on Hwy. 1."
"Pretty remote but great if that’s what you’re looking for. 30 minute drive up rocky dirt road in forest to get down there. Not many rules. Don’t get stuck in sand."
2. Usal Beach Overlook
"The trail in is basically an old mountain pass logging road that isn't maintained the best. It's narrow in spots and steep grade. I towed my offroad camper up without issue but its only 13ft long."
"Only drawback is proximity to the access road and a bit exposed."
3. Rattlesnake Cr. near Hwy 36, Shasta-Trinity NF
4. Boardman Ridge Campground
5. Grizzly Flat Dispersed Campground
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 11 min from Santa Rosa, CA
- 3 hrs 53 min from Redding, CA
Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Piercy, CA
26 Photos of 5 Piercy Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Dispersed Camping Reviews near Piercy, CA
23 Reviews of 5 Piercy Campgrounds
Juliana J.
RangerUsal Beach Campground
Beautiful Spot, fun drive, family/group friendly
Heck of a drive getting here, but worth the trek. I absolutely would not recommend hauling a camper up here. One way, winding road off of highway 1 that was actually pretty well marked. No service or amentities. Pack in and pack out! Both wide open spots near the beach or you can tuck your vehicle in by the trees with about a 1/4 mile walk to the beach. There was some group event going on and individuals who brought dirt bikes, so it was not quiet/peaceful, but the scenery made up for that. No marked sites, but plenty of fire pits to show where others have camped in the past. Lots of beautiful birds.
Ryan S.
GuideUsal Beach Campground
I brought my rig here....
I read the reviews but decided to try it anyway, bringing my 42 foot rig, a 1960 Chevy C20 with a 21' Geo Pro camper that has a 3' cargo hitch on the back. I made it down and back, and if I could call my past self I would say not to do it at all. Aside from the aggressive bouncing that throws all your stuff everywhere (male sure to stow everything tight) the problem for a rig, even one with good ground clearance, is there are long very narrow sections of the road with no pull outs so if you happen to meet someone coming the other way, one of you needs to back up for a long way, either up or down very windy and rutted roads until you find one. And it does have very steep areas, and the pot holes are pretty dramatic at times. Near the end, the road grade was so steep that I cooked my brakes and was still sliding down the road with very little traction. Then I came upon two very deep pothole/ruts (would have been fun in a jeep), one in front of the other and offset so that there was a big hump to high center on, no mater which way you took it. Going down I was able to control my speed and get by ok but one the way up I had to hit it with some speed, and bent the hell out of one of my stabilizers which caught the dirt coming up and over. But if you do bring a rig, there are eventually good places to get turned around, but you'd better hope you don't break down along the road because you'll cause quite the traffic jam for both directions. I stayed at the site just before the bridge but there are many more sites down farther. And be sure to check out the Cathedral Trees, there is a trail that is marked there near that bridge. There is no cell service here.
- JJasmine B.Scout
Usal Beach Campground
Nature beautiful, people not
It was genuinely the most beautiful campsite I've ever been to in my life, but it was simultaneously the dirtiest thousands of pieces of little plastics and cans and bags everywhere, people lighting fireworks and a man came up to me and asked if I wanted to smoke meth with him leaving me with mixed feelings about this place. It should also be said that I don't know if you could make it back there without four-wheel drive because I had to rely on that very often on some of these muddy spots on the road.
Ashley H.GuideUsal Beach Campground
Super cool stay
Directions from google maps led us straight to the sight. Got there at 8:30pm with little time/daylight to spare after setting up camp. Road was not in bad condition if you have off road setting/lift/good tires. Quite a few other groups there. Saw a pod of orcas in the morning. Does get cold and damp due to the location/fog/ocean. Super cool stay
Lou P.GuideUsal Beach Campground
Worth the drive
It’s remote, but not remote enough. Arrived on a Monday and spent the week there by ourselves. On Friday two rangers came in and said we owed the state $25/night . Felt a bit like getting robbed. They then suggested leaving soon as it becomes a local’s party place on weekends. We took their advice. It’s a wild and wonderful place.
Grant M.RangerUsal Beach Campground
Best Hidden Beach Getaway
It’s a 6-mile 4x4 drive to get to the beach, but the beach itself is glorious, mystical, magical, and everything I could hope for. I actually had to call in sick to work so we could stay an extra day and make it a 3-day trip. This may honestly be my favorite spot yet.
The wildlife was incredible — sea otters, seals, pelicans, and all kinds of other wild animals.
WARNING: Driving onto the beach got many 4x4 vehicles stuck, including us. We were able to dig ourselves out and stay closer to the road afterward, but we watched many people get towed out, including a 4Runner TRD Pro. A 4x4 alone is not enough for this beach, so be extremely careful if you decide to drive into the sand.
There’s a river upstream where you can filter water, but otherwise there are no water sources. There are outhouses available. Starlink worked well with a good view of the sky. It’s very cloudy most of the time in this spot, so solar performance is limited — but so are the crowds and noise. It’s such a beautiful place.
Jake S.ScoutUsal Beach Campground
Awesome beach, hard to access. Worth it
6 miles of potholes, rough dirt road and some deep puddles and you'll find a beautiful sandy beach with camping spots above the tide and some in the trees for privacy. Fire pits built all over. The sand is soft and the trail is tough so only attempt with some clearance and good tires.
- BBraxton C.Guide
Usal Beach Campground
Usal Beach
Pretty remote but great if that’s what you’re looking for. 30 minute drive up rocky dirt road in forest to get down there. Not many rules. Don’t get stuck in sand. Pick up trash please lots of firework junk and stuff
Guide to Piercy
Dispersed camping near Piercy, California features several primitive sites within the coastal redwood ecosystem where annual rainfall exceeds 80 inches per year. The steep terrain creates challenging access routes through dense forest corridors that transition between coastal and mountain environments. Campgrounds in this area experience significant seasonal variations, with summer bringing more manageable conditions compared to the often impassable winter roads.
What to do
Sunrise beach walks: Early morning explorations at Usal Beach Campground reward campers with unique wildlife encounters. "Saw mama and baby bear prints on the sand. The morning drive out was gorgeous," reports Matthew S., who appreciated the natural setting.
Forest hiking: The surrounding woodland areas provide natural trails through old-growth forests. "We fell in LOVE!! The 45 min dirt road was filled with amazing views early morning," says Monique F., highlighting how the journey itself becomes part of the experience.
Wildlife observation: The remote coastal-forest transition zone supports diverse animal populations. "Saw some coyotes when setting up camp, but they didn't mind us," notes Matthew S., describing the peaceful coexistence with local wildlife at Usal Beach.
What campers like
Beach-forest combination: Usal Beach Overlook provides elevated camping with coastal views. "Great views — and often less soggy than down below on the water and beach," explains Seth M., noting the practical advantage of higher elevation sites.
Seasonal timing: Visiting during shoulder seasons reduces crowds and improves overall experience. "I've heard that this place can get crowded during the summer months I'm glad we waited until fall," shares John L., who appreciated the more secluded autumn experience.
Seclusion options: Despite sharing the area with others, the expansive sites allow for privacy. "Picked this campsite on a whim during a trip up the coast. I was looking for an out of the way coastal campground that was still drivable, and boy, this campground did not disappoint," says Ryan T., describing the balance of accessibility and remoteness.
What you should know
Vehicle requirements: The access roads demand appropriate vehicles with sufficient clearance. "I started coming around the end of March. The trail can be a little rough if it's been raining. Had to pull someone out last trip, which made the adventure even better! I recommend 4x4 during the wet seasons and some recovery gear just in case," advises Robert S. about visiting Usal Beach.
Road conditions: Grizzly Flat Dispersed Campground and other remote sites require preparedness for changing terrain. "This area was also decimated by wild fire recently and a large percentage of the forest is charred," reports Joe V., providing important context about post-fire conditions.
Supply preparation: All necessities must be brought in and packed out. "Bring firewood, the beach is picked clean," notes Nate T., highlighting the limited natural resources at heavily used coastal sites.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose locations based on accessibility and amenities needed. "You can choose to shelter in the wooded areas or setup right on the beach. Beware of the deep sand," warns Chris N., pointing out practical considerations for setting up camp at Boardman Ridge Campground.
Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for animal encounters with appropriate safety protocols. "My wife and I were going to camp here but she was a little spooked by the amount of bears we saw on the trail to the campsite," shares Joe V., emphasizing the importance of wildlife awareness at Grizzly Flat.
Time budgeting: Account for slower travel on access roads. "The road was a bit rougher than expected (took us roughly 45 min from the paved road to camp). People made it down in mini vans but I personally wouldn't try it," advises Connor M., providing realistic timing expectations.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Usal Beach Overlook has strict vehicle size constraints due to narrow access roads. "I towed my offroad camper up without issue but its only 13ft long. I wouldn't advise anything much larger then 18ft," recommends SpentBrassOffroad B., offering specific dimensional guidance.
Traction management: Beach areas require special driving techniques. "Don't forget to air down those tires when going out on the beach," suggests SpentBrassOffroad B., providing practical advice for preventing getting stuck in sand.
Accessibility timing: Road conditions vary dramatically by season, affecting RV access. "Pretty remote but great if that's what you're looking for. 30 minute drive up rocky dirt road in forest to get down there," notes Braxton C., describing the typical travel time for accessing dispersed camping opportunities near Piercy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed
campsite near Piercy, CA?
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Piercy, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Piercy, CA is Usal Beach Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 19 reviews.
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dispersed camping near
Piercy, CA?
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Piercy, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 dispersed camping locations near Piercy, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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