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the USA🇺🇸 | hikesLost Coast TrailTide tables, black sand, seal haul-outs, beach camps | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Lost Coast Trail
👀 For curious travelershike ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The real decision on the Lost Coast Trail is north to south or south to north, and the wind decides it: hiking north to south puts the prevailing northwest wind at your back. The trail runs along the Pacific in the King Range, in northern California, United States, roughly 25 miles of mostly beach walking. Tides control everything, because several headlands are impassable at high tide. I once ate a squashed gas-station burrito on a driftwood log at Black Sand Beach, US$9, and it beat any restaurant meal that week. The scenery is huge, the permit is required, and the shuttle logistics are clumsy. Public transit to either trailhead is basically absent. Reserve your permit and a shuttle before anything else.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 the USA Travel Guide.
Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 40 kilometers
Total ascent: 600 meters


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 hike in the USAWhat makes it a must-see hike

Lost Coast Trail gives you something almost nowhere else in the lower 48 does: about 25 miles of roadless Pacific shoreline where the King Range drops steeply into the surf. You walk on black sand and cobble, past the Punta Gorda Lighthouse and seal haul-outs, with the mountains stacked behind you. That ratio of wilderness to effort is hard to match, since the elevation gain is small and the route is simple to follow. It also fits a longer Northern California loop, tying in the Avenue of the Giants and Redwood National and State Parks to the north. Flexibility helps too. You can do the whole thing in three days, or take a short out-and-back from Mattole or Shelter Cove. The catch is that the tide tables dictate your daily schedule, so you plan around the ocean, not your own preferences.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Punta Gorda Lighthouse: The 1911 lighthouse stands near the Mattole end, with a short walk to the site. It marks the start of wild coast and sits near seal and sea lion haul-outs.
  2. Black Sand Beaches: Dark sand and rounded cobble stretch for miles, glinting after waves recede. Walking on them is slow but strikingly beautiful.
  3. Sea Lion and Seal Rookeries: Marine mammals haul out on rocks along the shore. Give them distance and listen for the barking before you see them.
  4. Miller Flat and Randall Creek Camps: Beach campsites tucked beside freshwater creeks, with driftwood for windbreaks. Watching the sunset from here is the trail's best evening.
  5. Tide Pools: Rocky shelves near the southern stretches hold anemones, sea stars, and mussels at low tide. Check the tide chart before heading out.
Lost Coast … read more 👉
  1. Punta Gorda Lighthouse: The 1911 lighthouse stands near the Mattole end, with a short walk to the site. It marks the start of wild coast and sits near seal and sea lion haul-outs.
  2. Black Sand Beaches: Dark sand and rounded cobble stretch for miles, glinting after waves recede. Walking on them is slow but strikingly beautiful.
  3. Sea Lion and Seal Rookeries: Marine mammals haul out on rocks along the shore. Give them distance and listen for the barking before you see them.
  4. Miller Flat and Randall Creek Camps: Beach campsites tucked beside freshwater creeks, with driftwood for windbreaks. Watching the sunset from here is the trail's best evening.
  5. Tide Pools: Rocky shelves near the southern stretches hold anemones, sea stars, and mussels at low tide. Check the tide chart before heading out.
Lost Coast Trail requires a backcountry permit booked in advance through Recreation.gov, and these sell out for peak summer weekends.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Lost Coast Trail

Redwoods Railbike Along Pudding Creek

Redwoods Railbike Along Pudding Creek

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From €260
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Skunk Train: Wolf Tree Turn from Willits

Skunk Train: Wolf Tree Turn from Willits

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Skunk Train: Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg

Skunk Train: Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg

4.0(321) 1h 15m
From €49
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Glen Blair Bar Late-night Watering Hole

Glen Blair Bar Late-night Watering Hole

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Private Vacation Photoshoot with Photographer in Mendocino

Private Vacation Photoshoot with Photographer in Mendocino

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Fort Bragg California Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity and Game

Fort Bragg California Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity and Game

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Sunlight and Water: Making Blueprints by Hand

Sunlight and Water: Making Blueprints by Hand

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Mendocino Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour of Village & Headlands

Mendocino Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour of Village & Headlands

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Mendocino Lavender Farm Tour

Mendocino Lavender Farm Tour

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Stone Ranch Guided Stone Art Tour

Stone Ranch Guided Stone Art Tour

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Summer (June to September): Dry, with coastal fog and highs of 15 to 21°C (59 to 70°F), nights near 8 to 11°C (46 to 52°F). Days run long, permits sell out first, and the tide windows are easiest.
  • Fall (October to November): Clearer, calmer skies, 12 to 20°C (54 to 68°F), thinner crowds, and permits are easier to book. Rain starts returning by November.
  • Winter (December to March): Cold, wet, 5 to 14°C (41 to 57°F). Creeks swell, daylight is short, and few people hike.
  • Spring (April to May): Wildflowers, showers, 10 to 17°C (50 to 63°F), and steady winds.
Book the permit months ahead for summer weekends, and pick a start day when low tide falls in the morning. Permits cost US$12 per person plus a US$6 reservation fee.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
when-to-go

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutthe USA Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (451 pages) contains:
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in the USA

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in the USA


Best quality hotels in the USA

🥾 Hike detailsHike details: route, duration, and difficulty of Lost Coast Trail

Total Distance: Lost Coast Trail covers about 25 miles (40 kilometers) one way between Mattole and Black Sands Beach near Shelter Cove.
Duration: Most hikers take 3 days and 2 nights, though fast hikers manage it in 2.
Difficulty: Moderate. Elevation change is small, but soft sand and cobbles slow every step, and tides can block the route.
Starting Point: Mattole Campground in the north or Black Sands Beach in the south. Neither has real public transit, so most hikers arrange a private shuttle between them.
Major Landmarks:
  • Punta Gorda Lighthouse: A 1911 lighthouse near the north end.
  • Spanish Flat and
… read more 👉
Total Distance: Lost Coast Trail covers about 25 miles (40 kilometers) one way between Mattole and Black Sands Beach near Shelter Cove.
Duration: Most hikers take 3 days and 2 nights, though fast hikers manage it in 2.
Difficulty: Moderate. Elevation change is small, but soft sand and cobbles slow every step, and tides can block the route.
Starting Point: Mattole Campground in the north or Black Sands Beach in the south. Neither has real public transit, so most hikers arrange a private shuttle between them.
Major Landmarks:
  • Punta Gorda Lighthouse: A 1911 lighthouse near the north end.
  • Spanish Flat and Miller Flat: Camp areas with creek water.
  • Cooskie Creek and Randall Creek: Popular camps.
  • Black Sands Beach: The southern end near Shelter Cove.
Terrain and Scenery: Sand, gravel, and boulder fields with steep ridges rising almost directly from the beach. Some stretches have only a few hours of passable time at low tide.
Vegetation: Coastal scrub, grasses, Douglas fir on the ridges, and fog-fed ferns in the creek gullies.
Wildlife: Harbor seals, sea lions, and shorebirds are common. Black bears live in the area, so a bear canister is required.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

The biggest hazards on the Lost Coast Trail are tides and weather. Three sections are passable only near low tide (Punta Gorda, Sea Lion Gulch to Randall Creek, and Miller Flat to Gitchell Creek), so carry a tide table and time each crossing. Beach walking on loose sand and cobble is slow and tiring, so budget fewer miles per day than you would inland. Creek crossings can run high after rain. Fog and wind make nights cold, so pack a warm layer. Black bears live here, so a bear canister is required. Rattlesnakes sun on the trail, and ticks are common, so watch your step and check your clothing. Carry extra water treatment, since some stretches have no reliable creeks. Cell service is absent.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Most backpackers take 3 to 4 days to hike the 24 to 25 miles of the Lost Coast Trail between Mattole Beach and Shelter Cove. Three days means about 8 miles daily, while 4 days gives room for tide delays and rest. Hiking north to south is common because the wind usually blows at your back. A shuttle between the trailheads takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road.
Moderate to strenuous describes the Lost Coast Trail, mainly because of the footing rather than the elevation. Much of it is soft sand and cobble, which slows you to around 1 to 2 miles an hour, and you must time the tide-restricted zones around Punta Gorda and Miller Flat. Total elevation gain is modest, but there are a few steep climbs and creek crossings. Beginners with good fitness manage it over 3 to 4 days.
Yes, the Lost Coast Trail requires a permit for overnight trips, but no guide is needed. Permits come from the Bureau of Land Management through recreation.gov and cost US$12 per person plus a US$6 reservation fee. Summer weekends sell out months ahead, and a bear canister is also required. Parking at Mattole is free, and shuttle services charge roughly US$100 to 200 for the return.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American hikes near Lost Coast Trail

Explore more nearby:

  • Pacific Crest Trail—Lassen volcano, Mount Shasta, Hat Creek Rim, lava tube| 256 km away
  • Half Dome—Granite dome, steel cables, Mist Trail, Yosemite Valley| 503 km away
  • John Muir Trail—Sierra passes, point-to-point, Mount Whitney, resupply buckets| 584 km away

💡 Not sure where to go next?
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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Lost Coast Trail pairs well with a few days among the redwoods to the north, or a slow drive down the Mendocino coast afterward. I would walk north to south with the wind behind me, and budget one spare day on the route for tide delays.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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