Lost Coast Trail California
California's wildest coast, Mattole to Black Sands, over five days.
A complete Lost Coast trail guide and 5-day backpacking itinerary. The classic 25-mile point-to-point from Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach through California's wildest, roadless coastline, planned around the tides, the permit, and the shuttle.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
13 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Lost Coast: every stop pinned in order.
Mattole Beach → Black Sands Beach · King Range · California
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Lost Coast in photos: 2 of the stops.
Plan and book your 5 days in Lost Coast, one step at a time
How 5 days in Lost Coast split up
Plan 5 days for Lost Coast. Distance: 25 miles. Terrain: Beach & cobble. Permits: Required. Hiking the Lost Coast Trail means walking California's most undeveloped shoreline, where the King Range rises so steeply from the Pacific that engineers routed Highway 1 inland and left this stretch roadless. The whole coastline is public land, managed by the BLM as the King Range National Conservation Area, which is why there is a permit at all and why there is nothing built on it. This Lost Coast trail guide covers the classic 25-mile point-to-point from Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach over five days, hiking north to south with the prevailing wind at your back.
Day 1: Shuttle & Hike to Peter Johnson Creek
5 stops · Day one
Day 2: Peter Johnson Creek to Big Flat
2 stops · Day two
Day 3: Big Flat to Randall Creek
2 stops · Day three
Day 4: Randall Creek to Miller Flat
2 stops · Day four
Day 5: Miller Flat to Black Sands Beach
2 stops · Day five
Shuttle & Hike to Peter Johnson Creek
Your Lost Coast trip begins with logistics. Leave your car at Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove (the southern trailhead) and take a pre-arranged shuttle up to Mattole Beach, the northern trailhead. The shuttle drive is scenic and winding, so allow plenty of time before you start walking.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Eirian Evans / CC BY-SA 2.0Drive from
Leave car at Black Sands Beach · car required · DriveDrive to Shelter Cove and leave your vehicle at the Black Sands Beach lot, the southern terminus of the Lost Coast Trail. From Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV) it is about 3 hours on winding roads. Cell service is unreliable and this is your last chance for amenities before the trail.
- Shuttle to Mattole Beach Trailhead
~1.5–2 hr · northern trailhead · DriveMeet your pre-arranged shuttle at Black Sands Beach for the transfer up to Mattole Beach, the northern trailhead. The drive is scenic but winding, so allow ample time. Shuttle operators are independent, so book well in advance and confirm your pickup time and location.
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY-SA 2.0Mattole Beach permit check-inKing Range Wilderness permit · vault toilets · ViewpointAt Mattole Beach, confirm you have your printed King Range Wilderness permit (Recreation.gov permit 445864) and a tide chart. Make final gear adjustments, fill water bottles, and use the vault toilets before setting out. There is no potable water at the trailhead.
Official info →- Hike Mattole Beach to Peter Johnson Creek
8.3 mi · 5–7 hr · round Punta Gorda at low tide · HikeHead south from Mattole Beach. The first major challenge is rounding Punta Gorda, which must be done at low tide, passing the old Punta Gorda Lighthouse ruins. Continue over sand and cobble to reach Peter Johnson Creek for your first night.
See the trail → 
Camp at Peter Johnson CreekDesignated area · bear canister required · lodgeSet up camp near Peter Johnson Creek, a popular and spacious area with good access to fresh water. Store all food and scented items in your bear canister, and remember that packing out human waste with WAG bags is required.
Peter Johnson Creek to Big Flat
Today continues south through more tidal zones that demand careful timing, including the stretch past Sea Lion Gulch and Telegraph Creek. The trail alternates between soft black sand, cobble, and rocky headlands, so watch your footing and keep an eye out for sea lions and elephant seals hauled out on the rocks.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Hike Peter Johnson Creek to Big Flat
7.3 mi · 4–6 hr · Sea Lion Gulch tidal zone · HikeContinue south through more tidal zones that require careful timing, passing Sea Lion Gulch and Telegraph Creek. The trail mixes black sand, cobble, and rocky sections. Watch for sea lions and elephant seals hauled out on the rocks.
See the trail → - Camp at Big Flat
Open marine terrace · reliable water · lodgeBig Flat is a large, open camping area with reliable creek water and huge coastal views. It is popular for good reason, so arrive with time to explore the expansive beach. The terrace is exposed, so stake your tent well against the afternoon wind.
Big Flat to Randall Creek
This section serves up some of the most dramatic scenery on the Lost Coast, along with significant tidal challenges south of Big Flat. Plan to move through the exposed stretches during a low-tide window, and expect more pronounced headlands, rocky footing, and short steep climbs and descents.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Hike Big Flat to Randall Creek
6.5 mi · 4–6 hr · critical tidal crossings · HikeThis section has dramatic scenery and significant tidal challenges south of Big Flat. Move through the exposed stretches during a low-tide window, and expect pronounced headlands and rocky footing. Scan offshore for migrating gray whales.
See the trail → - Camp at Randall Creek
Sheltered sites · creek water · lodgeRandall Creek is often more sheltered than the open terraces, with creek water usually available. It is a good spot to break up the southern half of the trail and get out of the wind for the night.
Randall Creek to Miller Flat
A shorter, more relaxed day. The terrain is still rugged, mixing beach walking with rocky sections, but the tidal crossings are generally less critical than the earlier days. Take your time, soak up the views of the King Range foothills, and give your legs a lighter effort before the walk out.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Alexey Komarov / CC BY-SA 4.0Hike Randall Creek to Miller Flat4.0 mi · 2–3 hr · shorter, still rugged · HikeA shorter, more relaxed day mixing beach walking with rocky sections. The tidal crossings are generally less critical than earlier, but still watch the chart. Enjoy the views of the King Range foothills and give your legs a lighter effort.
See the trail →
Alexey Komarov / CC BY-SA 4.0Camp at Miller FlatFinal night · water access · lodgeMiller Flat is an excellent last camp with good sites and water access, positioning you for a short, easy hike out in the morning. Enjoy a final night under the stars on the roadless coast.
Miller Flat to Black Sands Beach
Your final morning is a short walk south along the beach to Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove, where your car is waiting. The distance is easy, but the Miller Flat–to–Gitchell Creek stretch can still be affected by the tide, so glance at the chart before you set off.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Alexey Komarov / CC BY-SA 4.0Hike Miller Flat to Black Sands Beach2.5 mi · 1–2 hr · easy final stretch · HikeThe final leg is a short walk south along the beach to Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove, where your car is waiting. It is mostly flat beach walking, but the Miller Flat–to–Gitchell Creek stretch can still be affected by the tide, so check the chart before setting off.
See the trail →
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY 2.0Finish & stay in Shelter CoveSouthern trailhead · refuel & rest · lodgeArrive at Black Sands Beach to complete the Lost Coast Trail. Collect your vehicle, then refuel with a hot meal and rest in Shelter Cove, or head up the road to Garberville for more options before the drive home. Cell service is limited, so confirm plans before you lose signal.
Sort where you sleep each night
Most nights on this trip are in a tent. Reserve any campsite the route needs, and the room either side of it if you want one.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling: the rooms either side, and the guided days in between. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookLost Coast Trail (King Range) opens on its own calendar
BLM backcountry permit for the 25-mile Lost Coast Trail in the King Range Wilderness.
| Permit | Required: Lost Coast Trail (King Range) Official page |
|---|---|
| Application window | a rolling release, permits open daily at 7:00 AM PT on a 90-day advance window |
| Odds of drawing | High demand for summer and weekend dates, more open midweek |
| If your application is denied | Watch the next daily drop 90 days out, or shift dates to line up with a passable low tide. |
| Trip starts from | Shelter Cove, CA, flying into California Redwood Coast (ACV) |
What to pack for Lost Coast
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping out 4 nights
For the 1 night under a roof
For the drive to the trailhead
Specific to Lost Coast
Essential wilderness rules & planning.
Permit required year-round
An overnight permit is mandatory for any night in the King Range Wilderness, booked through Recreation.gov (permit 445864). Permits release on a rolling 90-day, first-come window, daily at 7:00 AM PST, and go fast for weekends and peak season. A limited number of walk-up permits are sold at the King Range Visitor Center in season.
Plan every day around the tides
Three sections are impassable at high tide: near Punta Gorda, from Sea Lion Gulch to Randall Creek, and from Miller Flat to Gitchell Creek. Some dates have no safe window at all. Carry a printed tide chart for Shelter Cove and cross these stretches on an outgoing tide of 3 feet or less.
Bear canister & pack-out-waste rules
A hard-sided bear canister is mandatory for all food and scented items, strictly enforced. WAG bags are required to pack out human waste, do not bury it in the sand or dunes. Campfires are generally prohibited, so cook on a stove.
Water is seasonal, carry & filter
Creek water sources are seasonal and can be unreliable late in the dry season, and some run brackish near the ocean. Always carry enough between reliable creeks and treat everything with a filter or purifier plus a backup method.
Shuttle the point-to-point route
The trail is point-to-point, so leave your car at Black Sands Beach and take a shuttle to Mattole Beach. Several independent operators serve the area; book well in advance for peak season and confirm your pickup time and location.
Getting there needs a car
The King Range is remote. From Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV) it is about 2.5 hours to Mattole Beach and 3 hours to Shelter Cove, mostly on winding roads. There is no public transit to the trailheads, so a car is required.
Lost Coast: questions before you go
Lost Coast trail: the questions people ask most.
It is strenuous. The challenge is not elevation. It is terrain and timing: miles of soft black sand and uneven cobble, creek crossings, exposed rocky headlands, and strict adherence to the tide schedule to pass sections that are impassable at high tide. Trekking poles and a broken-in pair of boots make a big difference.
Yes. An overnight permit is mandatory for any overnight stay in the King Range Wilderness, booked in advance through Recreation.gov (permit 445864). Permits release on a rolling 90-day, first-come window daily at 7:00 AM PST and are highly competitive for weekends and peak season. A limited number of walk-up permits are sold at the King Range Visitor Center during the season.
Tides are the single most important planning factor. Three sections are impassable at high tide: near Punta Gorda, from Sea Lion Gulch to Randall Creek, and from Miller Flat to Gitchell Creek. Some dates have no safe window at all. Check a Shelter Cove tide chart for your exact dates before you book anything. Cross the critical stretches on an outgoing tide of 3 feet or less.
Yes. A hard-sided bear canister is mandatory for all food and scented items and the rule is strictly enforced. Soft-sided bear bags are not sufficient. You must also pack out human waste using WAG bags.
The trail is point-to-point, so most hikers leave a car at Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove (the southern trailhead) and take a shuttle up to Mattole Beach (the northern trailhead). Several independent operators run the shuttle; book well in advance for peak season and confirm your pickup time and location.
The shoulder seasons are best: May–June brings mild temperatures, wildflowers, less fog, and reliable water, while September–October offers clear skies, warmer water, and fewer people (though water sources can be scarcer). Summer is often foggy and crowded, and winter brings storms, heavy rain, and creek crossings that can become impassable.
It is the most serious hazard on the trail. The impassable sections sit below sheer rock walls with no high ground to escape to, so a hiker who mistimes the tide can be trapped and pushed against the cliffs by breaking waves. Carry a printed Shelter Cove tide chart for your exact dates, only enter a tidal bottleneck when the tide is actively falling toward low water, and if you are unsure, wait it out rather than pushing on.
Lost Coast permits are King Range Wilderness overnight permits, booked on Recreation.gov (permit 445864). They currently release on a rolling 90-day, first-come window at 7:00 AM PST each day, and popular weekend dates can sell out within minutes, so log in before your date opens and book immediately. Your group size is locked to the permit, a hard-sided bear canister is a condition of the permit, and rangers do check both on the trail. Expect a small per-person recreation fee at booking, and confirm the current fee and rules on Recreation.gov since they can change season to season.
The classic northern section from Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach is about 25 miles. Most hikers take 3 to 4 days. This itinerary spreads it over 5 days and 4 nights. That buys you flexible tide windows, shorter mileage on the worst sand and cobble, and time to enjoy camps like Big Flat. A longer, rougher southern section continues through the Sinkyone Wilderness for those who want more.
It is not a good first backpacking trip. The walking itself is non-technical, but soft sand, boulder fields, creek crossings, and life-or-death tide timing demand solid trip-planning skills and comfort carrying a multi-day pack. A fit beginner can do it alongside an experienced partner who handles the tide charts, or on a slower 5-day plan like this one with generous buffer time at each tidal zone.
North to south, from Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach, is the standard direction because the prevailing northwest wind is at your back instead of in your face. It also lets you leave your car at Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove and take the shuttle first, so you finish the hike at your own vehicle rather than waiting for a pickup.
Application window: a rolling release, permits open daily at 7:00 AM PT on a 90-day advance window.
High demand for summer and weekend dates, more open midweek.
Watch the next daily drop 90 days out, or shift dates to line up with a passable low tide.
Shelter Cove, CA is the gateway town, flying into California Redwood Coast (ACV).
Tell us your dates and we ask a local guide who works this area what they can do on your days and what it costs. If nobody is free, we tell you. Asking is free: no card, no deposit, and nothing is held until you say yes.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 5-day route. Same 6 stops.
- 4 nights, sites along the route
- $88
- A private local guide, campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
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Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
The WaveCoyote Buttes North · Arizona / UtahPermitLotterybrutal odds
Half Dome CablesYosemite NP · CaliforniaPermitOpens Mar 1fair odds
Mt. WhitneyInyo NF · CaliforniaPermitOpens Feb 1tough odds
Angels LandingZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
The SubwayZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
Mount St. Helens Summit ClimbGifford Pinchot NF · WashingtonPermitReservationtough odds
How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.