Jackass Creek flows generally west for 2.5 miles (4 km) to the Pacific Ocean, about 18 miles (30 km) north-northwest of Westport and 14 miles (22.5 km) southeast of Shelter Cove, California. The creek originates at an elevation of about 1,400 feet (427 m) on the western flank of Jackass Ridge and drains a watershed of approximately 3,458 acres (1,400 ha).  The upper reaches of the watershed are owned by the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, while the lower parts of both the mainstem and the north fork of Jackass Creek lie within Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. The abandoned town of Wheeler is situated 0.5 miles (0.9 km) upstream from the mouth of the creek. Historically, logging and road building in the watershed likely contributed to the decline of coho salmon in the creek.

Prior to 1890, logging along California’s north coast was a slow process, accomplished with simple hand tools. Production was generally limited to areas where the topography allowed transport via waterways and ox teams. Jackass Creek is so remote that logging likely didn’t occur there until the early 20th century, when lumber companies began consolidating. In 1949, the Wolf Creek Timber Company purchased the land from Weyerhaeuser and built the town of Wheeler to support logging operations from 1948 to 1959. Wheeler was destroyed by a freak storm in 1960 and was never rebuilt. Georgia-Pacific bought the property in 1973 and used cable yarding to extract trees from the rugged terrain. In 1975, Sinkyone Wilderness State Park began acquiring the land.

The Sinkyone Wilderness State Park stretches approximately 19 miles (31 km) along the coastline. It takes its name from the native Sinkyone tribe. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the King Range National Conservation Area to the north, the lack of major roads and highways has led to its nickname, the Lost Coast. The park covers around 7,800 acres (3,157 ha) and features steep slopes heavily wooded with Douglas fir forests on the west side and tanbark oak woodlands inland. It also contains several groves of old-growth coastal redwoods. The western boundary consists of sandy beaches and steep rocky headlands. Recreational opportunities include hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, limited mountain biking, camping, and beach combing. Read more here and here. Explore more of Jackass Creek and Sinkyone Wilderness State Park here: