Trail Overview
This is a steep one-lane dirt road that is not very heavily used and is reasonably well maintained by the county. On about sixty percent of the trail, two rigs can slowly and carefully pass by each other, thirty percent will require one of the two rigs to move out of the way and the rest will require someone backing up and working it out. Trailers are not recommended but small off-road trailers can make it just fine. Expect to find rutted-out conditions in the steeper sections of the forested area but nothing too severe. In dry conditions, sedans can make it. When it rains mud turns some sections into a bit of a slip-and-slide. You may encounter sizable muddy puddles six or more inches deep. Check to make sure the weather conditions are appropriate for your rig. After crossing a two-track wooden bridge over the Usal Creek turn left. There are numerous campsites in the forested area that provide shelter from the elements. Continue to the beach itself where you can camp on the sand facing the open ocean. Camping and driving on the beach south of Usal Creek is prohibited. There is a very rudimentary outhouse, you should bring your own solution. There is no potable water, and you must pack your trash out. There is no cell phone service on eighty percent of the route. Along the route, you will see enormous coastal redwoods and/or scenic vistas of the rugged California coastline. Just before the end of the route, by the Usal Creek bridge is the start of the well-maintained Peter Douglas Coastal Trail. A ten-minute hike up the hill will reveal the first of the amazing "candelabra" redwood trees. Mendocino County Department of Transportation may occasionally close Usal Road in winter months for road preservation. Visit their website or call for status.
Difficulty
In dry conditions, you can make it in a sedan. Wet conditions make it much harder for less capable vehicles. Passenger vehicles have been known to have to extend their stay at the campground for a day after heavy rains.
History
Usal Beach Campground was historically seldomly patrolled due to its remote location, so it unfortunately became somewhat of a "free-for-all" area. Illegal activities such as fireworks, loud music into early morning hours, target practice, reckless driving on the beach, ATVs, etc. are all too common.
