Route guide · King Range, California

Lost Coast Trail

California's wildest shoreline, walked on sand and boulder beach below the King Range. Two long stretches disappear under water at higher tides, so the whole itinerary is planned around tide windows — and the prevailing northwest wind makes north-to-south the sane direction. Creeks at the named camps solve water.

Length: 52.9 mi
Duration: 3 days (Mattole – Black Sands north section)
Gain: +13,350 ft
Season: Apr – Oct

point-to-pointhigh point 2,578 ftchallenging beach terrainno cell servicedogs allowed, but not advised

Plan this trip — it’s free See the day-by-day

permit required · we track who booked what · the whole crew on one page

16 campsites · 3 tide gates

Expand map ↓

Permit required — BLM King Range wilderness permit with a daily quota — book on Recreation.gov; bear canisters required. Official info

The shape of the trail

Route profile · camps + tidal sections

camppassable only at lower tideselevation

Each dashed line marks a headland the route can only get around when the tide is low enough — plan those days around the official tide tables, not just the miles.

Day by day

A reference itinerary, from real camps

Camps below are mapped campsites spaced to balance the daily miles — the same planner that builds a Trailmix trip. Your dates, pace and direction reshape it live.

Total52.9 mi · 2 nights

Days on trail

Day 1 · 34.2 mi · +8,450 ft
Trailhead → Camp 1
The trail begins on the beach from Mattole, passing the photogenic Punta Gorda Lighthouse before the camp at Sea Lion Gulch.
sandy and rocky terrain
Day 2 · 8 mi · +1,480 ft
Camp 1 → Wheeler Campground
From the trailhead, this section takes you across the first impassable-at-high-tide zone to reach Randall Creek.
tide dependent
passes Lost Coast Campground (34.5 mi) · unnamed site (34.7 mi) · unnamed site (34.9 mi) · unnamed site (35.0 mi) · Needle Rock Camp (35.2 mi) · Orchard Camp (37.5 mi) · Railroad Camp (37.7 mi) · Bear Harbor (38.0 mi)
Day 3 · 10.7 mi · +3,400 ft · hardest
Wheeler Campground → Exit trailhead
From Sea Lion Gulch, this leg is defined by the first major tide-dependent zone before reaching Randall Creek.
check your tide chart
passes Jackass Camp (45.7 mi) · Jackass Camp (45.9 mi) · unnamed site (48.2 mi) · Anderson Gulch Camp (48.3 mi) · Usal Campground (52.4 mi)

Conditions at the trailhead

King Range, California · updated daily

FRI 10·09

71° / 50°

cloud · 1%

SAT 10·10

62° / 49°

cloud · 2%

SUN 10·11

70° / 48°

part sun · 2%

MON 10·12

67° / 52°

clear · 0%

TUE 10·13

73° / 51°

cloud · 0%

Tidal route — Sections of this route are only passable at lower tides — the profile above marks them at their real mile. Heights come from the official tide tables, never from us; a Trailmix plan pulls the NOAA windows into each day automatically.

DIFFICULT TERRAIN — Hiking is mostly flat but very strenuous, alternating between soft sand, fist-sized pebbles, and slippery, algae-covered boulders that slow progress significantly.

Know before you go

wonderlandguides.com · blm.gov · thehappypackers.com · outdoorstatus.com

Advisory

The Wailaki and Nadelos campgrounds in the King Range National Conservation Area are closed due to multiple hazard trees that pose threats to human health and safety. A reopening date has not been determined. BLM · May 2023

All advisories →

Best months

share of dry days · Open-Meteo Archive (ERA5), 10-year normals at the trailhead

TRAILHEADS

The 25-mile route runs between Mattole Recreation Site in the north and Black Sands Beach near Shelter Cove in the south.

BLM

TIDES

Critical planning is required; several sections of the trail are impassable and dangerous during high tide.

BLM

WATER

Freshwater creeks are plentiful along the beach, but all water should be filtered or treated before drinking.

BLM

BEARS

An approved hard-sided bear canister is required for each person to store all food and scented items.

BLM

CAMPING FEE

Overnight wilderness permits are required and have a reservation fee per permit, booked online.

Recreation.gov

GETTING BACK

Most hikers use a pre-booked shuttle service for the 2-hour drive between the point-to-point trailheads.

BLM

Asked around the fire (about this trail)

Do I need a permit for the Lost Coast Trail?

Yes. BLM King Range wilderness permit with a daily quota — book on Recreation.gov; bear canisters required.

How many days does the Lost Coast Trail take?

Most groups take 3 days (Mattole – Black Sands north section). The reference itinerary here plans 2 nights, camp to camp.

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

April – October. Outside that window expect snow, storm damage or closures to change the plan.

Is the Lost Coast Trail tide-dependent?

Yes — sections of this route are only passable at lower tides, so the daily plan needs real tide windows, not just distances. Check the official tide tables for the crossings before you commit to a beach section; Trailmix plans each day around them automatically.

Do I really need a shuttle?

Yes, unless you plan to hike the trail out-and-back (50 miles). The trailheads are a 2-hour, winding drive apart, so arranging a shuttle is the standard logistical solution for this point-to-point hike.

How difficult is hiking on sand and boulders?

It is much more strenuous than a typical dirt trail. Expect a slow pace, around 1.5 miles per hour, as walking on soft sand and unstable rocks is physically demanding and requires constant attention.

Are dogs a good idea on this trail?

While dogs are permitted, the BLM and experienced hikers advise against bringing them. The rough terrain of sand, pebbles, and sharp rocks can be very tough on their paws.

Get the Lost Coast Trail in the bag.

Dates, camps, tide windows, gear split, meals and the crew — planned together on one page instead of forty threads.

Start a trip — it’s free