Usal Beach(Sinkyone Wilderness State Park)

Located in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, Usal Beach - also known as Usal Creek Beach - is a mile-long beach with dark brown sand. The beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs. The Usal Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. Usal Beach does not have lifeguards. However, the beach and the area around it have many other amenities including picnic tables, restrooms, and hiking trails. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

Usal Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, hiking, picnicking, and camping. The water near this beach is generally unsafe for recreational activities including surfing and swimming as the water here has strong currents, dangerous waves, and cold temperatures. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including harbor seals, elephant seals, sea lions, and migrating whales. If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of shorebirds around Usal Beach. In addition, you can also occasionally view elk in the area around the beach. However, if you come across an elk, we recommend being careful as these animals can get aggressive and attack without any provocation. It is important to note that while the beach was earlier famous as a beach-driving spot, driving your vehicle on this beach is currently prohibited. A popular activity in Usal Beach is camping - a tent campground is present near this beach and offers a fun oceanfront camping experience. If you are planning to camp in the campground near Usal Beach, you can visit Sinkyone Wilderness State Park’s webpage on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more helpful information on the campground amenities, rules, and charges. The Lost Coast Trail starts near this beach and offers an amazing hiking experience along with beautiful Instagram-worthy views of the Northern California shoreline.

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park has many amazing hiking and equestrian trails which offer a unique way to explore the vibrant coastal landscape of Northern Mendocino County. The park’s landscape has many habitats including woodlands and coastal grasslands. However, we recommend being careful while hiking within this state park as the area around the hiking trails here is known to have ticks. You can also view many kinds of animals and birds in this state park including bears, elk, ospreys, owls, falcons, and eagles. The state park’s Needle Rock Visitor Center was initially built as a ranch-house in the 1920s and now has interesting interpretive exhibits. In addition, there are many campgrounds for pedestrians and equestrians in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park which offer a fun camping experience. If you want to camp in these campgrounds, you can visit Sinkyone Wilderness State Park’s webpage on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website for more helpful information about camping here.

Getting to Usal Beach can be difficult - from Shoreline Highway/Pacific Coast Highway, you need to turn towards Usal Road which will lead you straight to the beach. A paid parking lot is also available near the beach. However, it is important to note that the beach and the area around it are generally open between March and October. In addition, the access road to the beach is winding, and RVs and large vehicles are not permitted on this road. We recommend visiting this beach wearing layered clothing as the weather here can be unpredictable.

There are many attractions near Usal Beach within an hour-and-five minute drive. The Westport Whale is a large whale statue above a small pool. This statue is a major local public artwork. Pacific Star Winery offers interesting and memorable wine tasting sessions. In addition, the winery also offers Instagram-worthy views of the Mendocino County coastline and the Pacific Ocean. The winery is also a great spot to watch migrating grey whales usually between December and April. If you are looking for another attraction near Usal Beach, the Chandelier Tree in Drive-Thru Tree Park is a 276-feet high coast redwood that has a large tunnel running through it - this tree is popular with visitors as they can drive their cars through it. This popular and exquisite tree is named the Chandelier Tree as its limbs resemble chandeliers.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Usal Beach within an hour-and-10 minute drive. The Peg House offers amazing burgers, salads, sandwiches, seafood, hot dogs, burritos, and bagels. The restaurant also hosts live music performances within its premises. In addition, the restaurant has also been praised by Sunset magazine for its excellent and popular burgers. Westport Hotel & Old Abalone Pub offers excellent seafood and gourmet dishes. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Usal Beach, the modestly priced The Purple Rose is a Mexican restaurant which offers amazing tacos, burritos, tamales, and chimichangas.

If you are looking for a hotel near Usal Beach, there are many great nearby options within an hour’s drive. The 4-Star Inn at Newport Ranch offers breathtaking views of the Mendocino County shoreline. In addition, the hotel offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and evening snacks, access to spa services, a sauna, and a hot tub. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Coast Inn & Spa which is an hour-and-21 minute drive away and offers many amenities including a cafe, a natural healing center, a spa with a hot tub and a sauna. As another moderately priced option, the Howard Creek Ranch Inn Bed & Breakfast offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a hot tub, and a sauna. In addition, hiking trails are also available which offer a fun hiking session around the bed-and-breakfast’s 60-acre property. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Usal Beach, the 2-Star Westport Hotel offers many amenities including a pub, complimentary breakfast, sauna, and a wrap-around porch.