The Pacific Coast Highway is one of America’s most famous drives, but in one part of California, the road disappears. This stretch is known as the Lost Coast, where steep mountains meet the ocean, and no highway could be built. Instead, it’s a wild, untouched shoreline where hikers explore nature without crowds or cell service.
The Lost Coast Trail is about 25 miles long, running between Mattole Beach and Black Sands Beach in the King Range Wilderness. The trail passes through black-sand beaches, rocky bluffs, tide pools, and coastal forests. Hikers may spot sea lions, elephant seals, elk, or even black bears.
What makes this trail unique is its connection to the tides. Parts of the trail are impassable at high tide, so hikers must plan their journey carefully about tide tables. Fog, crashing waves, and winds make the landscape even more dramatic.
There are no hotels or cafés here—only campsites along the beach and bluffs. With a permit, hikers can camp anywhere between Mattole Beach and Telegraph Creek. Most complete the trail in 2 to 4 days, carrying their supplies and enjoying the peace of one of California’s most remote places.
The Lost Coast Trail offers true solitude and a raw beauty that feels far from the busy highways of California.
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