It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. Pacific Coast Highway is one of America’s most iconic drives—a ribbon of asphalt tracing California’s golden edge. The road ends in one spot. The mountains are so high that the engineers had to redirect the highway. What’s left is the Lost Coast. A raw, remote shoreline that refuses to bend under development. Hikers trade their cell phones for sea lions.
It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. Lost Coast TrailA 25-mile route, between Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach, traverses the King Range Wilderness. It’s not merely a hike—it’s a passage into a world shaped by wind, water, and time. Fog covers the cliffs in gauze. Bluffs collapse into black-sand beach. The tide dictates the pace of travel, not schedules.
There are no inns, no roadside cafés—only kelp-strewn shorelines, the rustle of elk in the brush, and paw prints from creatures you may or may not ever see. Solitude is not something to be coveted, but rather a right.
Its dependence on the Pacific is only second to its remoteness. Several stretches are impassable at high tide—and on certain days, the ocean never recedes enough to allow safe passage at all. Hikers plan their journey like sailors: every day is choreographed to tide tables and the narrow window of safe passage.
Beyond its reliance on the tides, Lost Coast Trail showcases a side of California most people rarely see—one of solitude and stillness. The trail runs between rocky boulders fields and bluffs, and then to the beach. Tide pools are filled with starfish while coastal birds fly overhead. The black-sanded beaches are littered by sea lions and seals. Some lucky ones might even see a black bear or an elk roaming the beach.
The average hiker completes the 25-mile trail within two to four working days. However, some choose to do it in sections. A permit is required for overnight camping (and sometimes a fire permit).
Permits
The Lost Coast Trail is a great backpacking trail for those who are looking to explore the entire Lost Coast Trail. get an overnight permit for the King Range Wilderness. Permits may be reserved up to 90 days before entry. There are also walk-up permit options available at the King Range Visitor Center via lottery. Permits for overnight camping are required throughout the year.
Camping
Camping along the Lost Coast Trail follows a simple pattern: With a permit you can camp anywhere between Mattole Beach to Telegraph Creek, which is located just north of Black Sands Beach. There are many flat, natural campsites on the beach and along the bluffs. The majority of these are next to a stream that provides water.
To use camp stoves or to build campfires, you need a campfire permit. Campfire permits are readily available online. permits.preventwildfiresca.org.
