Getting there
- Flights to Arcata/Eureka (ACV) 80 km from the start
- Flights to San Francisco (SFO) 345 km from the start
Treks / USA (California)
Lost Coast Trail
USA (California) · Nearest city: San Francisco
TypeMulti-day trek
Days3
Distance≈ 40 km
Climbingvaries
Highest pointlow-level
A wild beach walk along California's most remote coastline, where the highway had to turn inland.
Fitness
Demanding
Best seasonMay to October
Watch out: Some sections are impassable at high tide. Carry a tide table and a permit.
Why people choose it
It's California's wildest coastline, so remote the highway had to turn inland.
What makes it different
- Beach walking with no road in sight
- Seals, sea lions and tide pools
- Tide-dependent route
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Roaming in USA is expensive on most phone plans. A data eSIM bought before you fly gets you online as soon as you land.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
In national parks, overnight stays need a wilderness permit and camping is often limited to designated sites. On most national forest and BLM land, dispersed camping is allowed.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Mattole Beach → Shelter Cove
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Get the required permit, reservation or ticket. Popular dates sell out.
- Best time to go: May to October.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from San Francisco.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: May to October
June to August
Summer
The most popular time, with fog along the coast and busy permits.
Bring
- Warm layer for fog
- Tide table
- Bear canister
September to October
Autumn
Often the clearest weather of the year, with fewer people.
Bring
- Tide table
- Headlamp
- Rain jacket later in the season
November to May
Winter and spring
Storms, high surf and swollen creeks. Some sections may be impassable.
Bring
- Full waterproofs
- Check creek and surf conditions
- Flexible dates
Be ready for
Tides
Some sections can only be passed at low tide. Carry a tide table and plan your day around it.
Bear country
Store food in a bear canister or locker, cook away from your tent, and carry bear spray where rangers recommend it.
What you'll see
5 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Lost Coast Trail
Photo credits: Morning on the Lost Coast by Wendy Seltzer, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; King Range National Conservation Area by Bureau of Land Management, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Sunset over North Pacific Ocean, Black Sands Beach, Shelter Cove, California by Alexey Komarov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Tide pools at Shelter Cove, California by Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Lost Coast Trail by John Leszczynski from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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