lost coast trail

Lost coast is beautiful, roads are not for the car sick person. Ensure you have enough fuel and water. There are not many bathroom places en route even you don't mind a nature experience, People are so friendly, if you stop on the road, they ask is you need help. The drive is beautiful and the lost coast walks and views are well worth the time, but be sure you have the time. It is not a route to rush through.

Great sites! Amazing views! Awesome trails! Wildlife, life that's not so wild, plants, stars, coast, campfire...Time can pass quickly, in the forest and on the coast, as the sun secretly unzips the night sky revealing a beautifully speckled canopy with unfathomable depth.Take a light or headlamp, water, protein, water filter and cooking/eating containers*/utensils, hiking poles (recommended if carrying a pack, 1/3 your weight max.) and any First Aid and support braces/bandages** you may need along the way.* raccoons stoles our food container. Thoroughly wash, rinse, and remove any possible stored food in any un-used bins. Damn raccoons stealing my chia seeds. (Bring extra protein if hiking more than 2 days.)** I had to tape up my knee the 3rd day because someone else needed the wrap I was borrowing...Jones Beach has some good campsites and coastal views around needle rock from the cliffs there, and a few trials.We wanted to stay at Wheeler but had burned too much daylight and had to push through to Little Jackass.I liked this beach however, I would not recommend camping here. The trail meandered and disappeared on the last leg to the beach. The tide came up close, and condensation from the cold and the ocean .... well, all four tents needed drying before we could pack up and move on. Not everyone camped on the beach either.Side notes:Early January was around 35°-75°GPS mark your car, especially if doing a Car-A to Car-B hike. Also, remove any valuables and food to limit any raiding from animals or people acting like animals.We saw 3 people on the trail, one of which lived on the trail as a volunteer.Enjoy and Be Safe.-ABC

Lots of beautiful scenery and few people... take a picnic and make sure your car is all fueled up. The weather was blustery in November, but it was still nice to walk on the beach without the crowds.

Completed the southern section with my dad (late 50's) over winter holidays. It was an absolutely incredible trip. We saw beautiful elk, learned about the natural history of the area from a kind ranger, had great trail meals with the best of sunset ocean views, and the trees were unforgettable. Can't wait to do the northern section.PS. Be prepared for rugged coastal trails- they're not in the greatest of shape so I recommend trekking poles. Don't let that stop you!

The view on the coast and the surrounding area is beautiful, the coast is covered in fog early morning and evening. I went during autumn but I've seen photos of spring time, the flowers are blooming everywhere so I would recommend going during spring instead of fall. We backpacked the coast for 3 days, it was tough on my joint and toes, the sand really hurts after awhile though.

The trails are awesome, but not for the novice. You need to know the tides, if you go during high tide you won't get too far. For those who plan properly, you will experience the most untamed and beautiful section of the Northwestern Pacific Coast.

If you love rugged and untouched, you'll love this trail. It's truly soulful, penetrating to a healing degree. I would travel up the North Coast if only for it. I hope you get to at least drive it for a while, if not hike it.

We hiked from south to north and met up with some friends who hiked north to south and exchanged car keys and drove each other's cars home (to avoid the horrendous shuttle fee). We arrived at shelter cover (which has bathrooms) in the afternoon and hiked about 2 or 3 miles and set up camp at horse mountain creek (and accidentally encroached on an otter's territory).We began the real hike on the second day. The sand and small rocks were difficult to walk in because it was loose (even in the damp area) and the large rocks were difficult to maneuver and hop across if you're not used to it. There were a lot of river crossings (some that went up to my upper calf). Towards the last and penultimate day, there was a lot of easy walking on meadow trails with only a few creek crossings. The tide was kind to us when we went and was always low during noon and afternoon times. Other hikers said the high tide impassable zones were still passable but with only a foot or less of dry sand. I don't recommended if it can be helped, because there are sleeper waves that can suddenly crash up to where you are walking during high tide. BRING A TIDE CHART!! We also lucked out on the weather and it was a low to mid 60F during the day and only lightly drizzled for a few hours one morning. Bring layers to account for all weather.The scenery was fantastic with towering mountains on one side and crashing waves on the other. Most of the time we camped right on the beach (sometimes the waves were so loud, I couldn't sleep) and there was drift wood to collect for a campfire at night. The water is recommended to be treated with purifying tablets or filter pumps, but I didn't use either towards the end of the hike and I was fine drinking the water straight from the creeks and rivers. Bear canisters are mandatory, and there is a ranger at the trail heads to check if each person has one. There were a lot of surfers and fishermen walking this trail.

This is a fairly easy drive that takes you through some interesting terrain. The drive close to the beach is spectacular and I think it is the only time I have done hair pin turns in farm land!

This trail is often divided into two sections. The northern section, from Mattole Beach to Shelter Cove, is approximately 25 miles long. Backpacking this trail takes a bit of logistical creativity as the roads connecting the trail heads on both ends are about a 2-3 hour drive apart from each other. The hike is picturesque and the wildest part of California coastline. It is hard to believe that places this pristine still exist. Tips for the hiking portion of the trip: 1. It won't get much warmer than 50F so bring some layers, one should definitely be your rain gear, head to toe.2. I'd avoid this trip in the winter, and if you go in the summer, hike from north to south. The prevailing and sometimes strong wind comes from the north in the summer and you'll enjoy it much more at your back than as a 25 mi headwind.3. Bring a tide chart and a map. Know how to use both. There are several areas that are completely impassable at high tide and several hours surrounding it.

I am a very unfit women cursed with an athletic husband. This hike was not work for me at all, nearly no grade, just beautiful views. I suggest good boots, because parts were muddy and slippery, but otherwise, I could have been walking around a mall. A beautiful, seaside mall. If we're ever in Eureka again, I'll absolutely do this again.

Beautiful, leisurely, and so picturesque.Worth the extra time and all the interesting sites along the way...

Walking on large rocks was more challenging than anticipated. Worry about high tide and impassable areas more taxing than anticipated. Overall a beautiful and rugged trip. Great two days of sun last day 100% foggy but still very cool. Lots of access to drinking water.

The drive to the lost coast from Ferndale is scenic and when we did it, the marine layer was all over us and it seemed like driving through the clouds. The road is windy and narrow at times. After about 35 minutes of drive from Ferndale, we ended up at lost coast but much of the coastal access is blocked by fences. It just seems unfair that the cows and horses are closer to the beach than us. We were hoping for a beach access to have fun the kids, but didn't find a beach that suited us. Most of it is rocky and access is limited.

This coastline is wild and epic, well worth the winding, twisty road. The beaches are magnificent, lots of good beach coming material, driftwood, rocks, shells etc.