Backpacking the Lost Coast- Out and Back

Location: Located in Humboldt County, California. The Lost Coast is broken into two sections, the Kings Range Wilderness and the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. The Kings Range Wilderness section, which is the most popular stretch of the Lost Coast Trail, is located at Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove.Distance: 25 miles on the north trail, one way. We hiked from the southern end to north and back (50 miles total). While flat, the trail was tough because of the rocky terrain and soft sand.Best Time: Year round, the area gets around 100 inches of rain every year.Duration: About 3.5 days with early mornings and afternoon breaks to wait for low tide.Permits and Restrictions: Permits can be obtained at either Matthole Beach or Black Sands Beach trailhead. Make sure to obtain a fire permit online or at the ranger’s office if you plan on using a stove for cooking. A bear canister is also required for this trail and available for rental at the local BLM office. As of September 2015, The ranger stated their may be a quota implemented in 2016. Dogs are allowed on the trail. We did not bring Dakota with us because we were concerned the coastal terrain would be too hard on her paws.