Lost Coast Trail

25 Mile of Secluded Beauty

707-825-2300
707-986-5400

There is a stretch of the north coast that is still untouched by the civilization that has been slowly sprawling over the less rugged terrain. The 60,000-acre King Range National Conservation Area is an extremely rocky and steep stretch of land that extends to the beach. The region is known ad “The lost Coast” due to it’s remoteness. Highway 1 / 101 had to be built 30 miles inland due to the difficulty of road construction in the area.

Bring your hiking boots for this area. Your ankles will thank you. This 24.8 mile trail leads north from the Black Sands Beach to the Mattole River. This is one of the few costal wilderness hikes in the U.S. and is not considered to be very simple to do. The whole trail will most likely take 3 days. Don’t let that dissuade you as you can still explore the trail partially – as far as you want to hike and still make it back to your car by nightfall.

This area is very beautiful, and on holidays or weekends it can be very popular. Try to make it on a weekday in spring and you will be treated to blooming wildflowers, sea lions, tide pools, More than 300 species of birds, California gray whales (100 yards off the shore during their migration in January and February), fresh air and stunning views – all to yourself!

Bring plenty of layers of clothes because the weather can fluctuate from dense fog or rain to sunny and warm!

If you want to hile from one end of the trail to the other you may want to use a shuttle service to take you to the trail head opposite of where you are parked and walk back to your car. Currently the only licensed shuttle service is Lost Coast Trail Transport, (707) 986-9909, www.lostcoasttrail.com.

Directions: Take the Honeydew exit from Highway 101 (about 25 miles north of Garberville). Turn left on Bull Creek/Mattole Road and drive 22 miles. At Honeydew, turn west toward Petrolia and drive 13.5 miles. Before crossing the river, turn west on Lighthouse Road. Drive five miles to the parking area.
OR: From Ferndale, take Petrolia Road 30 miles to Petrolia. Go 3/4 mile past Petrolia, cross the river and turn west onto Lighthouse Road, continue five miles to parking area.

Note: be careful along the long drive from Highway 101, often on narrow, winding, steep paved roads. The drive is not a recommended from motor homes or vehicles with long trailers.