Lost Coast Trek
Sacramento, CA
5.0 (3 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Rugged California Coastline
- Dense Old Growth Forests
- Stunning Beach Camping
- Remote Black Sand Beaches
- Ocean Wildlife
- Wonderful Solitude
- Point to Point Thru-Hike
Description
The Lost Coast is a stretch of California coastline so rugged State Highway 101 was forced to go around. The remoteness is a rare respite from the rest of the state’s border with the Pacific Ocean. There are no mansions tucked along hillsides or congested lines of traffic winding along the cliffs. Here, the weathered cliffs of the King Range tower above the sea, blocking the way of everyone who’s not on foot.
Between the cliffs and the sea, the Lost Coast Trail passes along a narrow band of pristine black sand beaches. It is the domain of the hiker, a wild and severe landscape swathed in dense forest with pristine creeks, waterfalls, and stunning sunsets. Our path leads us to expansive vistas above the surf and to remote, majestic campsites. Apart from sea lions and a few other adventurous hikers, it is pure solitude. The Lost Coast trail is one of the finest beach backpacking trips in the world – don’t miss this one of a kind tour!
Need to Know: Lost Coast Permits & Tides
It’s extremely beneficial to register before September 30th for trips the following year! Lost Coast permits become available on October 1st, and we are required to have registered guests to request dates. We have an excellent success rate with securing our dates; however, if for some reason we’re unsuccessful your deposit is fully transferrable or refundable.
Dates must be carefully selected based on tides. In the Dates & Booking section of this page you will find dates that work with the tides. If you’re interested in other dates, please contact us as we will have to ensure they are feasible. If not, we will work with you to find feasible dates in your timeframe.
Feel free to call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions about the Lost Coast permit process.
$1235 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 5
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 30-40 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 4-9 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 500 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 500 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Unmaintained, mostly off trail
- Additional:
- This trip is a Level 5 difficulty due to the nature of the hiking, which is on sand beaches, low tide areas, and up and over coastal bluffs and mountains. There are days that we must hike at a good pace through rugged areas during low tide, and not getting through in time can be dangerous.
Participants should:
- be very active, healthy people
- exercise vigorously several times per week
- be comfortable hiking, biking, or running for hours at a time without taking breaks
SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this California hike a solitude 4. You can expect to see zero to a couple of other groups per day in the backcountry.
Learn More about our Rating SystemTRAVEL TO SACRAMENTO
Sacramento International Airport is one of the most easily accessed destinations in the country. Many major cities in the United States and internationally offer direct flights into Sacramento. We recommend staying in a hotel near the airport.
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
Day 1
- Drive to Black Sands Beach from Sacramento: 4.5 hrs
- Shuttle from Black Sand Beach to Mattole: 2 hours
Today we will eat a quick breakfast and wake up early to make our way toward the Lost Coast. After a 4.5 hour drive, we will arrive at Black Sands beach trailhead and meet our private shuttle driver that will be taking us to the Northern starting trailhead. We will set up camp on the beach near our trailhead, sit around a cozy campfire as the sun sets, and dine on some amazing outdoor cuisine prepared by your guide. Also, if we arrive at the beach early enough there are some wonderful hikes and walks in the immediate area that you can enjoy.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 6.6 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 600 feet
After a hearty breakfast we will pack up and begin our adventure along the Lost Coast Trail. The first two miles of the trail wind through dune grass, after which we reach our first of three tidal zones, which are stretches of beach impassable at high tide. Navigating with the tide charts, we will make our way through the ½ mile stretch, after which the Punta Gorda Lighthouse comes into view. Known as the “Alcatraz” of lighthouses, due to its isolation and solitude, Punta Gorda makes for wonderful photography. The lighthouse, first lit in 1912, provided a beacon to ships until the 1950’s. After the lighthouse we will continue on to Sea Lion Gulch, where the cliff becomes too steep for the trail to continue. We will climb roughly 200 ft up on the bluff and then finish our day with 2 more miles to our campsite along a Cooskie creek with stunning ocean views.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 10.3 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 500 feet
Our third day begins with a hike along a 2 mile stretch that is impassable at high tide, so we’ll time our departure carefully. Following tide charts, we make our way along rough and wet cobblestone where a coastal creek flows into the ocean. Beyond the tidal zone, we’ll stop for a quick snack along and then continue down a nice dirt trail, a wonderful section of hiking. For the next few miles, we ascend a densely forested ridge with with views of prominent coast peaks to our left and eventually drop down to a major valley with a crystal clear creek. We’ll stop, fill up water and enjoy the scenery, then continue another 2.8 miles to our camp at Miller Flat, where we’ll eat a delicious dinner around a roaring campfire.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 6.8 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 200 feet
After a tasty breakfast, today’s hike begins with more timing with the tides. Only twice a day during low tide does today’s initial trail emerge. The mountains rise up directly out of the sea and the beach is a thin shelf along the cliffs. This section is steep, rocky and sometimes involves timing travel with the patterns of the waves. Most think this is the most beautiful part of our trail. After roughly 4 miles we approach a beautiful creek and the beach opens up wide enough for high tide travel. We will make our way toward Horse Mountain Creek where we will camp for the evening and enjoy our final, celebratory dinner around another cozy campfire.
Day 5
- Hiking Mileage: 1.9 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 200 feet
On our last day, after a hearty breakfast, we will pack up and head south toward Black Sands Beach trailhead. Walking along the black sand, forests of Douglas fir covering the hillsides and homes along Shelter Cove come into view. As we climb up from the beach to our shuttle, we will enjoy a last lunch before making our 4.5 hour drive back to Sacramento, where we will say our goodbyes and start dreaming about our next adventure.
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and technical backpack
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified California hiking guide
- Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Sacramento and back
- All necessary entrance fees and permits
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (Oboz hiking shoes and boots recommended)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What To Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki or Black Diamond trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
What Gear To Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are three 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
What Clothes to Bring
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
Trip Logistics
How do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
This trip originates in Sacramento, California with an orientation meeting the evening before the trip begins at the Hampton Inn & Suites Sacramento-Airport-Natomas. We recommend staying at this hotel, as we will depart directly from here on the morning of Day 1 and return to this hotel on Day 5. Your guide will be in contact approximately 10 days before the trip start date to coordinate the pre-trip orientation.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s departure time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 6 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at this hotel on the final day normally before 7 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The standard group size on our Lost Coast backpacking trips is 6 guests and 1 guide, with a maximum of 12 guests and 2 guides. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
Weather in the Lost Coast
The Lost Coast of Northern California is moderated and cooled by the moist air coming off the Pacific Ocean, which makes for surprisingly consistent temperatures year round. It’s often foggy in the morning, clear during the day, and foggy again in the evening. From May through October rain is scarce, but mist and fog are common. Winter is the rainy season. Read below for average high and low temperatures in the Lost Coast:
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
| Month | Low | Hi |
|---|---|---|
| May | 54° | 51° |
| June | 55° | 52° |
| July | 56° | 53° |
| August | 57° | 54° |
| September | 58° | 54° |
| October | 57° | 54° |
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
IN THE ACTION
Of course campsites vary tremendously by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your backpacking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Reviews
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Michael L.
The scenery was beautiful!
The Lost Coast backpack hike with Betsy and Claire as guides was terrific. The scenery was beautiful, and the food was excellent. It is a unique experience walking along the Pacific coastline and sleeping with the sound of the surf.
Michael O.
Thank you for a memorable experience!
Thank you for such a memorable experience hiking the Lost Coast! What a remarkable environment to explore. Joe had everything covered and was attentive to my dietary needs.
Elizabeth W.
Wonderful Guide and Adventure!
Joe was wonderful! I really liked how he guided us through the trip on a map ahead of time and was able to improvise when one of our campsites was inaccessible.
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