Lost Coast Trail Map +
5-Day Backpacking Itinerary
5-day Lost Coast Trail 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.
Free interactive planner · drag & reorder your days, add stops, map it in minutes
Build your own Lost Coast trip, drag, reorder & map it.
Drag stops between days, swap camps, and add your own creeks and beaches with the place search. The live map recalculates as you go, so you can tune the Mattole-to-Black-Sands route to your tide windows and pace before you lose cell service in the King Range.
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California's wildest coast, Mattole to Black Sands, over five days.
The Lost Coast Trail runs along 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. This 5-day itinerary covers the classic 25-mile point-to-point from Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach, hiking north to south with the prevailing wind at your back.
You camp at Peter Johnson Creek, Big Flat, Randall Creek, and Miller Flat, splitting the mileage so you can hit the impassable-at-high-tide sections during safe low-tide windows. Days range from a demanding 8.3 miles rounding Punta Gorda to an easy 2.5-mile walk out on the final morning.
An overnight permit is required year-round for the King Range Wilderness (booked on Recreation.gov), a bear canister is mandatory, and WAG bags for packing out human waste are required. May–June and September–October are the best months: milder weather, less fog, and fewer crowds than foggy summer or stormy winter.
King Range Wilderness overnight permits (Recreation.gov) release on a rolling 90-day, first-come window, daily at 7:00 AM PST, and go fast for weekends and peak season, so book the moment your date opens. Check the tide chart for your exact dates before you reserve: three sections are impassable at high tide and some dates have no safe window at all. A north-to-south shuttle from Black Sands Beach to Mattole Beach must be arranged in advance.
Shuttle & Hike to Peter Johnson Creek · 8.3 miles
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.
From Mattole Beach the trail heads south down the beach and rounds Punta Gorda, a critical tidal zone you must cross at low tide, passing the old Punta Gorda Lighthouse ruins along the way. Continue over sand and cobble to your first camp at Peter Johnson Creek, where fresh water is usually available.
- Shuttle: Black Sands Beach → Mattole Beach~1.5–2 hr transfer · book an operator well in advance
- Carry your printed permit + a tide chart · vault toilets at Mattole
- 8.3 mi · 5–7 hr · round Punta Gorda at low tide
- Camp at Peter Johnson CreekSpacious site · filter creek water · bear canister required
- Leave your car at Black Sands Beach and shuttle north to Mattole so you finish at your vehicle. Hiking north-to-south also puts the prevailing wind at your back.
- Punta Gorda is impassable at high tide. Carry a printed tide chart for Shelter Cove and cross on an outgoing tide of 3 feet or less.
- A bear canister is mandatory in the King Range Wilderness. Soft-sided bear bags are not allowed and the rule is strictly enforced.
Punta Gorda ruinsPeter Johnson CreekPeter Johnson Creek to Big Flat · 7.3 miles
Sea Lion GulchHaul-outsToday 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.
You'll pass several possible camps, but Big Flat is the classic choice: a large, open marine terrace with reliable creek water and huge ocean views. Set up early and explore the expansive beach, this is the trip's scenic heart and a great spot to feel the solitude of the roadless coast.
- 7.3 mi · 4–6 hr · time Sea Lion Gulch for low tide
- Watch for sea lions & elephant sealsHaul-outs near Sea Lion Gulch · keep your distance
- Camp at Big FlatOpen marine terrace · reliable water · big views
- The section from Sea Lion Gulch onward is one of the impassable-at-high-tide stretches. Plan your morning start around the low-tide window.
- Big Flat is popular and spacious, but it is exposed. Stake your tent well and expect afternoon wind off the ocean.
- Give sea lions and elephant seals a wide berth. They are large, fast on the rocks, and protected.
Big Flat to Randall Creek · 6.5 miles
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.
The trail weaves along the coastline with chances to spot whales during the migration seasons. Randall Creek is your camp for the night: often more sheltered than Big Flat, with creek water usually available. It's a good spot to break up the southern half of the route.
- 6.5 mi · 4–6 hr · critical tidal crossings south of Big Flat
- Scan for migrating whalesGray whales pass offshore in spring & winter
- Camp at Randall CreekSheltered sites · filter creek water · bear canister
- The stretch from Miller Flat back up toward Big Flat is one of the three impassable-at-high-tide zones. Read your tide chart carefully before leaving camp.
- Water sources are seasonal and can turn brackish near the ocean. Carry enough between reliable creeks and always filter or treat.
- Randall Creek tends to be more sheltered than the open terraces, which makes it a comfortable choice on a windy night.
Randall CreekKing Range coastRandall Creek to Miller Flat · 4.0 miles
King Range foothillsSouthern coastA 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.
Miller Flat makes an excellent final camp: good sites, water access, and a position that sets up a short, easy hike to the trailhead in the morning. Enjoy one last night under the stars on the roadless coast.
- 4.0 mi · 2–3 hr · shorter, still rugged
- Camp at Miller FlatFinal night · water access · often less crowded
- Use the short mileage to rest, dry gear, and top off water so your final morning is quick and easy.
- The stretch from Miller Flat to Gitchell Creek can be impassable at high tide, so still confirm your morning window.
- Campfires are generally prohibited along the Lost Coast Trail. Cook on a stove and check current fire restrictions before your trip.
Miller Flat to Black Sands Beach · 2.5 miles
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.
Reaching the black volcanic sand marks the end of the trip. Collect your vehicle, then refuel with a hot meal in Shelter Cove or up the road in Garberville before the drive home.
- 2.5 mi · 1–2 hr · easy final stretch on black sand
- Refuel in Shelter Cove or GarbervilleRestrooms at the trailhead · limited cell service
- The last stretch is mostly flat beach, but soft black sand is tiring, so keep your trekking poles handy.
- Cell service is unreliable in Shelter Cove. Download offline maps and confirm any shuttle or ride details before you lose signal.
- Shelter Cove has basic amenities; Garberville, about an hour east, has more restaurants and gas for the drive home.
The trail behind youShelter CoveNow build your Lost Coast trip.
You've seen all five days. Open the free drag-and-drop planner and tune it for your permit dates, your tide windows, and your pace along the King Range 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.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Ready to go? Get your
Lost Coast Trail route.
Trailheads and camp mileages, the King Range permit and how to grab it, the tide windows for Punta Gorda and Sea Lion Gulch, shuttle logistics, and the bear-canister and WAG-bag rules you need to hike the Lost Coast safely.
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