King Range National Conservation Area · CA
Lost Coast Trail
Hard · Multi-day backpack · Best in Spring, Fall
Length
25 mi
Gain
1,500 ft
Scenery
★★★★★
About this trail
California's only true wilderness coastline — 25 miles of black-sand beaches between two roads. Tide-dependent: two impassable zones must be crossed at low water. Bear cans required.
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Highlights
- Black sand beaches
- Tide-required passages
- Roosevelt elk and seals
Get there
Start: Trailhead · 40.2911, -124.3528
End: Black Sands Beach · 40.0223, -124.0717
Open driving directions in Google Maps →Permit
Along the way
- Mattole Beach TH@ mile 0· 0 ft
- Punta Gorda Lighthouse@ mile 3
- Sea Lion Gulch@ mile 4
- Big Flat@ mile 14
- Spanish Flat@ mile 19
- Black Sands Beach@ mile 25
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See Lost Coast Trail on the live Trailspark map alongside weather averages, gear lists, an elevation profile, and nearby points of interest.
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