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Lost Coast Trail

King Range (Lost Coast) · Humboldt · Managed by King Range National Conservation Area (BLM)
Difficulty 15/100 · Easypoint to point#coastal#point-to-point#tides#wildlife
Distance
24.4 mi
Total gain
405 ft
Net gain
19 ft
Net loss
0 ft
Elevation
10–130 ft
Days
3–4
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

The Lost Coast Trail runs 24 miles down California's most remote coastline, from the Mattole River mouth to Black Sands Beach near Shelter Cove, beneath the 4,000-foot wall of the King Range. With no roads, no cell service, and two rocky sections that are impassable at high tide, it is as close as the state gets to true wilderness backpacking — on sand.

Highlights

  • A roadless stretch of coast where black sand beaches run unbroken for miles
  • Sea lions, harbor seals, and migrating gray whales just offshore
  • The Punta Gorda lighthouse and the abandoned-settlement feel of the north end
  • Tide-dependent passes through the rocks that make the trip feel like an expedition

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Mattole Trailhead (10 ft · parking: End of Lighthouse Road near the Mattole River mouth, south of Petrolia)
  • Water: Creeks cross the route regularly, but some run dry by late summer; treat all water. Carry extra for dry stretches.
  • Resupply: None — the route is roadless between Mattole and Shelter Cove.
  • Shuttle: Required — commercial shuttles run between Shelter Cove and the Mattole trailhead.
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Bureau of Land Management (King Range NCA)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: Permits required year-round; summer quota applies for the most popular dates.
  • Reservation window: Reserve via recreation.gov ahead of time.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires allowed seasonally. Beach fires may be allowed below the high-tide line when no fire restrictions are in effect — confirm current rules with the King Range office and check for seasonal bans. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: May, June, September, October.

Snow: Year-round; storms are frequent November through April.

Heat: Cool and foggy; summer highs are typically in the 60s.

Bugs: Minimal; ticks can be present in the brush.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Two sections are impassable at high tide — plan each day around the tide table
  • Bear canisters are required; black bears patrol the beaches
  • The shuttle between Shelter Cove and Mattole is mandatory; book ahead
  • No cell service, and storms arrive without warning — the King Range is the rainiest corner of California

Map

Route track shown for reference only — navigate with map and compass. Track source: OpenStreetMap route relation 6125620 (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) (ODbL 1.0).

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. King Range Wilderness Permits (Lost Coast). Recreation.gov / Bureau of Land Management. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445864. Accessed 2026-09-07. Year-round permit requirement and summer quota; permit listing verified via recreation.gov.
  2. Lost Coast Trail route relation 6125620. OpenStreetMap contributors. https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/6125620. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: ODbL 1.0. Route geometry; the mapped alignment follows the beach. Bluff detours add elevation beyond the computed figures.
  3. SRTM90 elevation data. OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-07. Elevation enrichment for computed gain/loss statistics.
  4. Tide predictions. NOAA Tides & Currents. https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Tide tables are essential planning material for this route.