Lost Coast Trail

The Lost Coast Trail is a 24.6-mile (39.6 km) point-to-point backpacking trail in Humboldt County, Northern California, United States, gaining approximately 460 m of elevation over 3–5 days. Rated moderate, it traverses one of the last undeveloped stretches of the Pacific Coast — a remote, tide-swept route past a 19th-century lighthouse, elephant seal colonies, and wild beach strewn with driftwood and sea stacks.

About the Lost Coast Trail

The Lost Coast Trail runs through the King Range National Conservation Area, a federally protected wilderness managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Humboldt County, Northern California. This coastline was too rugged for California State Route 1 to follow, leaving an 80-mile stretch of sea cliffs, cobblestone beaches, and fog-draped headlands almost entirely free of roads and development — earning the name “Lost Coast.”

The standard hiking direction is south to north: from the Mattole River Trailhead near Petrolia to the Black Sands Beach Trailhead outside Shelter Cove. Walking this direction puts prevailing Pacific northwesterlies at your back and keeps the most tide-sensitive passages early in the day. Total distance is 24.6 miles (39.6 km), typically covered in three to five days depending on pace and tidal planning.

The dominant terrain is beach — alternating between black sand, rounded cobblestones, and gravel — punctuated by short rocky headland crossings that are only passable within a two-hour window centred on low tide. These tide windows are non-negotiable; hikers who misjudge them face surf-swept ledges with no safe retreat. Carrying a printed tide table alongside your offline map is essential.

Inland, the King Range rises steeply to 4,087 feet (1,246 m) at King Peak, just 3 miles from the ocean — one of the sharpest coastal relief gradients in the contiguous United States. It is this topography that keeps the coastline wild and makes route-finding instinctive: the ocean is always to your right heading south-to-north.

Wildlife encounters are a defining feature of the hike. Steller sea lions haul out at Sea Lion Gulch, river otters fish the creek mouths, bald eagles soar above the ridge line, and elephant seals occupy isolated stretches of beach between late autumn and spring. Tidepools in the rocky headland passages teem with purple sea urchins, ochre sea stars, and limpets.

Food weight matters enormously on a 3–5 day carry with no resupply. Before packing, read How Many Calories Do You Need Hiking a Full Day? — soft sand and cobblestones burn significantly more energy per kilometre than packed trail.

Route Overview & Stages

The table below breaks the standard Mattole-to-Black Sands route into four stages, matched to the main named camping areas. Note that elevation figures are cumulative per stage; the trail is not technically difficult, but soft cobblestone and repeated creek crossings make every mile feel longer than it reads.

Tide note: Stage 2 (Punta Gorda headland) and Stage 4 (Miller Flat to Gitchell Creek) contain sections impassable at high tide. Check the official tide tables and current trail conditions on the BLM Lost Coast Trail page before each day’s departure.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Punta Gorda Lighthouse (Mile 3 / 4.8 km) — Built in 1911 and decommissioned in 1951, this isolated lighthouse sits directly on the beach with no road access. It is the trail’s most photographed landmark and an excellent lunch stop on Day 1.
• Sea Lion Gulch (Mile 15 / 24 km) — A rocky cove where Steller sea lions congregate year-round. The sound carries well before you arrive; approach slowly and stay at least 50 metres from any animals on the rocks.
• Miller Flat Estuary (Mile 17 / 27 km) — A wide gravel flat at the mouth of Miller Creek, used as a campsite and known for river otter sightings at dawn and dusk.
• Cooskie Creek Campsite (Mile 17.5 / 28 km) — One of the most sheltered stops on the entire route, with reliable fresh water and a flat gravel bar protected from prevailing ocean winds.
• Randall Creek (Mile 20.5 / 33 km) — The last significant creek crossing before the finish. After winter storms it can run thigh-deep; late-season hikers typically find it ankle-deep in October and November.
• Needle Rock (Mile 22 / 35 km) — A dramatic sea stack rising from the surf just offshore, signalling the approach to Shelter Cove and the final stretch of coastline.
• Black Sands Beach (Mile 24.6 / 39.6 km) — A vast arc of dark volcanic sand stretching south from Shelter Cove. The colour contrast against Pacific green makes it one of the most visually distinctive beaches in California.
• King Peak (optional inland detour) — A strenuous 8-mile (13 km) round-trip side trail climbs to 4,087 feet (1,246 m) with panoramic views of the entire Lost Coast — best attempted as a rest-day add-on for experienced parties.

Best Time to Hike the Lost Coast Trail

The Lost Coast Trail is open year-round, but conditions vary considerably by season. As of 2026, the BLM continues to issue backcountry permits year-round, with a mandatory advance-reservation system in place for peak-season dates (May 30 – September 5).

Spring (April – June) is the optimal hiking window. Wildflower blooms cover the coastal bluffs from late April, creek levels drop to manageable wades by late May, and fog stays limited to early mornings. Temperatures sit between 10–18 °C (50–65 °F). May is the single best month to hike the Lost Coast Trail — warm enough for comfort, cool enough to carry a heavy pack, and before summer crowds peak on the permit system.

Summer (July – September) is peak permit season. Days are long, rain is negligible, creek crossings are straightforward, and all tide passages are accessible. The downside: thick coastal fog can persist all day in July and August, holding temperatures at 8–14 °C (46–57 °F) and muting coastal views for hours at a time. Book permits well in advance.

Autumn (October – November) sees crowds thin dramatically, temperatures moderate to 12–17 °C, and the first elephant seal arrivals on the northern beaches. Creek crossings remain manageable in October but begin rising by late November. Storm swells increase after mid-October, making some coastal passages more exposed and spray-prone.

Winter (December – March) demands experience and full storm preparation. Creek crossings can become dangerous, Pacific fronts arrive with little warning, and some beach sections may be temporarily restricted due to elephant seal pupping colonies. The isolation is extraordinary, but winter conditions suit experienced backpackers only.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The Lost Coast Trail is camping only — no huts, shelters, or resupply points exist along the 24.6-mile route. Camping is permitted throughout the King Range NCA with a valid backcountry permit at no additional fee. Principal campsites along the northern route include:

• Punta Gorda — flat gravel above tide line, exposed to wind, water from Fourmile Creek nearby
• Spanish Flat — wide beach flat at ~14.5 km, fresh water nearby, often breezy at night
• Buck Creek — sheltered by low bluffs, one of the most popular first-night stops at ~22.5 km
• Cooskie Creek — well-protected and flat, consistently good water, at ~28 km
• Miller Flat — estuary setting with river otter habitat, at ~27 km
• Randall Creek — final major stop before the finish, at ~33 km

For the night before or after the hike, Shelter Cove (near Black Sands Beach Trailhead) has the Inn of the Lost Coast with rooms from approximately €100–150/night. Ferndale, 45 minutes north of the Mattole Trailhead, offers Victorian-era bed-and-breakfasts from around €90/night.

Getting There & Back

The car shuttle is the primary logistics challenge: the two trailheads are 56 miles (90 km) apart by road — roughly 90 minutes of driving through narrow mountain terrain.

• Nearest airport: Arcata–Eureka Airport (ACV), 55 miles (88 km) from Shelter Cove — approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by rental car.
• From San Francisco (SFO): 4 hours 30 minutes north on US-101, the most common access route for out-of-state visitors.
• Shuttle services: Local operators in Shelter Cove and Ferndale offer paid trailhead shuttles (approximately €60–90 per vehicle); book in advance as capacity is limited, particularly in summer.
• Public transport: No bus service reaches either trailhead directly. Greyhound serves Eureka; a taxi or rideshare then covers the remaining 60+ minutes to Petrolia or Shelter Cove.

Permits & Fees

All overnight hikers require a backcountry permit for the King Range National Conservation Area. There is no user fee for trail access itself; only a booking service fee applies when reserving through Recreation.gov.

• Peak season (May 30 – September 5): Advance permit required; book via Recreation.gov as soon as the booking window opens for your dates.
• Walk-up permits: Available at the King Range Visitor Center in Whitethorn during peak season. Maximum 3 hikers per walk-up permit; weekday permits are sold on Fridays.
• Off-season (September 6 – May 29): Self-registration at the Mattole Trailhead; no advance booking required.
• Camping restrictions: Camping is allowed north of Telegraph Creek throughout. Camping at Black Sands Beach Trailhead is prohibited.

Gear & Packing List

The Lost Coast’s coastal environment calls for specific gear thinking: salt air corrodes metal quickly, soft sand and cobblestones are brutal on lightweight trail runners, and multiple creek crossings per day demand full waterproofing. For a 3–5 day carry with no resupply, choose a pack of 50–65 litres.

• Backpack: The Osprey Aether 65 handles five-day food loads with excellent hip-belt load transfer — critical when heavy cobblestone miles accumulate across the legs. For minimalists, the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 keeps base weight under 1 kg in a waterproof DCF body, ideal when coastal weather guarantees wet days. The Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 is a reliable middle-ground option for those carrying camera gear or bulky camp layers. For a broader comparison, see Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2026: 7 Packs Tested and Ranked.
• Footwear: Waterproof mid-cut hiking boots are essential. Trail runners will be soaked at the first creek crossing and offer inadequate ankle support on rolling cobblestones. Pack lightweight sandals for wade crossings and in-camp comfort.
• Tide table: Print it — do not rely solely on a phone screen in salt spray. Plan each day’s start time around the two-hour low-tide window at restricted headland sections.
• Bear canister: Required in designated zones; check current BLM regulations before departure as requirements may be updated seasonally.
• Water filter: Multiple fresh creek sources run throughout the route. A lightweight filter or purification tablets are sufficient.
• Layers: Coastal fog keeps temperatures variable even in peak summer. Pack a fleece mid-layer, wind shell, and waterproof outer regardless of the forecast.
• Trekking poles: Helpful for stability on cobblestone and creek crossings, though some hikers prefer free hands when scrambling rocky headland sections.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Lost Coast Trail’s remote, tide-governed character appeals to you, these long-distance routes share its wilderness ethos and Pacific geography. The Pacific Crest Trail is the natural next step for anyone wanting a full California thru-hike across three states. For a dramatic single-summit objective, the Mount Whitney Trail reaches the highest point in the contiguous United States in a long but achievable day. In Yosemite, the Half Dome Trail delivers cable-assisted summit climbing and world-class granite scenery. Fans of canyon exposure will find the Angels Landing–West Rim Trail in Zion National Park an unforgettable Southwest classic. For an entirely different scale of ambition, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail covers 4,988 km of the spine of the Americas from Mexico to Canada. If you enjoy wild point-to-point mountain routes on another continent, the Theth to Valbona hike in Albania is a compact but stunning ridge crossing through the Albanian Alps worth adding to your list.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Lost Coast Trail?

May is the single best month. Spring wildflowers peak in late April and May, creek crossings are manageable, and temperatures of 10–18 °C (50–65 °F) make carrying a full pack comfortable. Summer brings longer days but persistent coastal fog can hold temperatures at 8–14 °C in July. Avoid December through February unless you have serious winter wilderness experience.

How difficult is the Lost Coast Trail?

The trail is rated moderate. Total elevation gain is approximately 460 m — modest by mountain standards — but miles of soft sand and rolling cobblestones are far more energy-demanding than packed trail. Tide-locked headland passages require precise daily scheduling, and creek crossings vary from ankle- to thigh-deep by season. The route demands careful planning more than raw fitness.

How far should I plan to walk each day?

Most hikers average 10–14 km (6–9 miles) per day on the Lost Coast, considerably less than a typical mountain trail of equivalent duration. Soft sand reduces pace significantly, and tide windows constrain when you can safely pass certain headlands. A four-day schedule is the most relaxed option for first-timers, leaving time to enjoy wildlife and avoid rushing through tidal passages.

Is there any accommodation on the trail?

The Lost Coast Trail is camping only — no huts, shelters, or resupply points exist along the 24.6-mile route. Camping is permitted throughout the King Range NCA with a valid backcountry permit at no additional fee. The nearest indoor accommodation is in Shelter Cove at the Black Sands Beach end, or Ferndale, about 45 minutes north of the Mattole Trailhead by car.

Do I need a permit to hike the Lost Coast Trail?

Yes — all overnight hikers require a backcountry permit for the King Range National Conservation Area. During peak season (May 30 – September 5), permits must be reserved in advance through Recreation.gov. Outside peak season, self-registration at the Mattole Trailhead is available at no charge. There is no trail-use fee beyond Recreation.gov’s booking service charge. Day hikers do not require a permit.