The Lost Coast Trial

Three days backpacking, 24.7 miles of unoccupied beach off the Northern California Coast.

There is really nothing like it, being sandwiched between the pacific ocean and coastal mountains. Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, you either drove 4 hours to the beach or 3 hours to the mountains. You have the best of both worlds here!

“It was named the “Lost Coast” due to the steepness and related geotechnical challenges of the coastal mountains. Making this stretch of coastline the most undeveloped and remote portion of the California coast.^[2] Without any major highways, communities in the Lost Coast region are isolated from the rest of California.”

It took 5 hours from Sacramento to Shelter Cove. We camped at Wailaki Campground for the night, just 20 minutes from Black Sand Trail Head, where we would leave our car, and catch a shuttle to our starting point.

We booked a shuttle with Bills Lost Coast Shuttle Service. He picked us up from the trail head and drove about 2 hours to Mattole beach, where we would begin our journey!

There are 3 parts of the trail that are impassable at high tide. Luckily, the tides were on our side and did not occur till 6-7 pm. Bill even printed out a tide chart for us for the exact days we were hiking!

At 9:40 am. we were off!

3.7 miles into the hike, we stopped at The Punta Gorda Lighthouse.

Quite possibly the cutest little light house I had ever seen! With hundreds of sea lions sunbathing in front!

California had a super bloom this year from all the rain. and man did the Lost Coast flourish from it!

There were flowers everywhere! Especially the California State Flower, Poppy!

Poppy’s on Poppy’s on Poppy’s, as long as the eye could see!

RECOMMEND: highly recommend going in April! Go in the spring when everything is green and blooming!

Finishing the day at 9 miles.

We set up camp at Spanish Creek, right on the beach!

This was my first time camping on the beach and i have to say it was the best sleep i have ever had while camping. It was a little windy so Jordan made a wind barrier out of drift wood.

We napped on the beach, watched the sunset, eat our mountain houses, and huddled around our fire until you could see every star in the sky.

 

We found a rabbit skull aka jackalope skull. Unfortunately it did not survive the hike out but thankfully we took a cool photo of it!

Morning Campsite Views

Heather’s Choice was an amazing healthy option for backpacking! Blueberry was my favorite!

I have been truly memorized by California Wildflowers.

The photo above is the same flower as below but bloomed. Something so dark can turn into something some vibrant!

Along the coast there were a few properties we passed.

Could i live in an isolated place like this? Part of me would love it and the other part knows i need a little bit of city life.

Its funny. I never really thought of myself as a city girl until i moved to California.

The hike was probably 20% rocks. That was the toughest part for me. My feet and ankles were killing me by the end of the day.

Granted, i did find it fun jumping rock to rock. The water had eroded the rocks to have somewhat smooth flat surfaces. I kept calling Jordan a “speedy crab” with his wide strides, he moved across the rocks with ease.

Finishing the day at 12 miles.

We camped at Buck Creek.

No better feeling then setting up camp, feeling accomplished after a long hiking day and watching the sunset.

Camp Views

Sun set 4/27/2019

Morning sun coming through the trees

Happy Happy Happy

Ended our last day at 4.5 miles and a 5 hour drive home.

This trip was absolutely amazing and i would recommend it to EVERYONE.

I would say the trail was 20% rock, 20% land and 40% sand, with not too much elevation gain. This was my second backpacking trip. Comparing the two, (Trinity Alps and now the Lost Coast) both were difficult in their own ways.

 Mother Nature.

She keeps me in the moment, forgetting any worries i have.

She’s breathtaking beautiful, showing me something new every step of the way.

She’s mystical and majestic, challenging me not just physical but mentally.

California has really opened my eyes to all that mother nature can show us. I had never been camping till 2018. (not including that one time i was a sophomore in HS and i lied to my parents to go camping with some seniors. long story short, i got caught and my dad came and picked me up in front of everyone.. including the senior I had a crush on..so embarrassing) I have a lot to catch up on and explore! Can not wait for whats to come on my backpacking adventures!!

BIG SHOUT OUT to Jordan Rigsbee for making all the fires, always making my food first, still loving me when i lost our only utensils the first day of the trip, and for just being an amazing mountain man. I love adventuring with you!

Stay Kind.