Do yourself a favor and add the Lost Coast to your bucket list. Between the soaring cliffs, black sand beaches, and abundant wildlife, the Lost Coast will amaze from beginning to end. Permits are now required for overnight backpacking, so make sure to plan in advance.

Details

  • Distance: 25 miles
  • Elevation: 0 ft
  • Days: 3 Days
  • Starting Location: Mattole Point
  • Ending Location: Shelter Cove
  • Map: Online maps for planning purposes can be found here and here and here. Waterproof trail map can be purchased here. 

Sample Itinerary:

  • ​Before Trip: Reserve backpacking permit and arrange shuttle service from Shelter Cove to Mattole Point. Permits are reservable here and shuttle services are available through Mendo Insider and Lost Coast Adventure Tours. 
  • Friday Night: Depart from San Francisco. Drive 5 hours to either Nadelos or Wailaki Campground. Both campgrounds are not-reservable and available on a first come first serve basis. 
  • Saturday Morning: Drive 15 minutes to Shelter Cove. Take 2 hour shuttle to Mattole Point. 
  • Saturday: Hike ~10 miles along the beach. Camp at a stream crossing.
  • Sunday: Hike ~10 miles along the beach. Camp at a stream crossing.
  • Monday Morning: Hike ~5 miles along the beach to Shelter Cove. Drive 5 hours back to San Francisco.

Hike Specific Info:

  • Bear Canister: Required.
  • Permit: Required. Reserve here.
  • Shuttle Service: Available through Mendo Insider and Lost Coast Adventure Tours.
  • Tides: Several sections of the Lost Coast are impassable at high tide. Print out a tide chart before departing
  • ​Fires: Check fire restrictions here. ​

Footnotes:

  1. We recommend the North to South route as you will walk with the wind as opposed to against it. The trail is doable both ways but it is definitely more enjoyable going North to South.
  2. Mendo Insider and Lost Coast Adventure Tours are the only companies legally approved to provide shuttle services. Make sure to book well in advance!
  3. Make sure to plan around the tides! You DO NOT want to be caught in an intertidal zone during high tide. 
  4. Beach hiking is considerably harder than walking on HARD ground. Consider 10 miles of beach hiking to be of similar difficulty to 10 miles with 1000 ft of elevation.