Approach to the South Trailhead
To reach the south trailhead at Black Sands Beach from Highway 101, turn off the 101 at Garberville, onto Briceland Road, a small ashphalt road which winds its way through rainforest-covered mountains past Briceland and finally arriving at the little oceanside town of Shelter Cove. Although this is a much better road than the Wildcat approach to the north trailhead, great care must be taken, as evidenced by several sad but beautiful memorials along the roadside to lost loved ones who fell victim to tragic accidents.
This road is packed with large trees right at the edge of the ashphalt, steep hills, hairpin turns and huge exposed ridges close to roadside, and to lose control of a vehicle and leave the road could easily result in a fatality. It takes about forty-five minutes to reach Shelter Cove from the turnoff at Garberville. Follow Beach Road once reaching town, and it will lead you to a large public parking lot overlooking the ocean. You can leave your vehicle here, free of charge. There are also washrooms and picnic areas at this site. Walk down the paved road to the trailhead overlooking the ocean, do not attempt to downclimb the cliffs here. Pictured below are images of the scenery you will encounter in reaching the south approach, from the time you cross Humboldt County line and pass through Briceland Road until finally reaching your destination at Whitethorn, near Shelter Cove.
To reach the south trailhead at Black Sands Beach from Highway 101, turn off the 101 at Garberville, onto Briceland Road, a small ashphalt road which winds its way through rainforest-covered mountains past Briceland and finally arriving at the little oceanside town of Shelter Cove. Although this is a much better road than the Wildcat approach to the north trailhead, great care must be taken, as evidenced by several sad but beautiful memorials along the roadside to lost loved ones who fell victim to tragic accidents.
This road is packed with large trees right at the edge of the ashphalt, steep hills, hairpin turns and huge exposed ridges close to roadside, and to lose control of a vehicle and leave the road could easily result in a fatality. It takes about forty-five minutes to reach Shelter Cove from the turnoff at Garberville. Follow Beach Road once reaching town, and it will lead you to a large public parking lot overlooking the ocean. You can leave your vehicle here, free of charge. There are also washrooms and picnic areas at this site. Walk down the paved road to the trailhead overlooking the ocean, do not attempt to downclimb the cliffs here. Pictured below are images of the scenery you will encounter in reaching the south approach, from the time you cross Humboldt County line and pass through Briceland Road until finally reaching your destination at Whitethorn, near Shelter Cove.
Weather and Tide Activity on the North Coast
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| In an infrared (IR) image cold clouds are high clouds, so the colors typically highlight the colder regions. In a water vapor image, white areas indicate moisture and dark areas indicate little or no moisture, so the colors typically highlight areas with large amounts of moisture. Click on the map at left for more information. * Linked from the NOAA GOES website - http://www,goes.noaa.gov/WCIR4.html |
Essential Gear for the Lost Coast Trail
Bear canisters are required by law, and there is a $150 fine per hiker for anyone found to be not using them. They can be rented from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for $5 per trip, $75 credit card deposit. Black bears are indigenous to this area and it is not at all unusual to come across bear tracks on the beach. Beware.
Tide Tables for Shelter Cove are a must and may be obtained on the internet or in several local businesses in Shelter Cove. The website Above California has a complete Lost Coast topographic map to search for topos anywhere on the area. This is an excellent outdoor California website, and also has a search function with regards to tide tables. An excellent map, titled "Trails of the Lost Coast," (Wilderness Press, ISBN: 0-89997-203-9) can be purchased from REI stores in California for $9.95.
Good, solid hiking boots should be worn on this hike. Gaiters help keep the water out and the feet dry when walking through or across small creeks and rivers. Light-duty hiking runners are fine for beach walking on sand, but much of this hike is over rocky, difficult areas, with some minor scrambling over driftwood, boulders and stream beds. Your feet and legs will suffer for it if you don't wear good, solid, comfortable boots. Hiking poles are good to have along on rougher areas. High winds, cooler temperatures and foggy, damp conditions are often the norm on the Lost Coast, even when the rest of the state is baking in ninety to one hundred degree temperatures, so a good rain and windwear combination for shell protection is advised.
Bear canisters are required by law, and there is a $150 fine per hiker for anyone found to be not using them. They can be rented from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for $5 per trip, $75 credit card deposit. Black bears are indigenous to this area and it is not at all unusual to come across bear tracks on the beach. Beware.
Good, solid hiking boots should be worn on this hike. Gaiters help keep the water out and the feet dry when walking through or across small creeks and rivers. Light-duty hiking runners are fine for beach walking on sand, but much of this hike is over rocky, difficult areas, with some minor scrambling over driftwood, boulders and stream beds. Your feet and legs will suffer for it if you don't wear good, solid, comfortable boots. Hiking poles are good to have along on rougher areas. High winds, cooler temperatures and foggy, damp conditions are often the norm on the Lost Coast, even when the rest of the state is baking in ninety to one hundred degree temperatures, so a good rain and windwear combination for shell protection is advised.
Red Tape and Legalese on the Lost Coast
Permits must be obtained from the BLM in order to use camp stoves or to have camp fires along this trail. Buy any required permits at the BLM office in Whitethorn near the south trailhead, or at the Petrolia General Store near the north trailhead.
Useful Phone Numbers
King Range Information Line / BLM Arcata Office (707) 825-2300
King Range Headquarters (707) 986-7731
Garberville / Redway Chamber of Commerce (707) 923-2613
Shelter Cove Information Bureau (707) 986-7069
Ferndale Chamber of Commerce (707) 786- 4477
Permits must be obtained from the BLM in order to use camp stoves or to have camp fires along this trail. Buy any required permits at the BLM office in Whitethorn near the south trailhead, or at the Petrolia General Store near the north trailhead.
Useful Phone Numbers
Shuttle Services to the Trailheads
Lost Coast hikers have long had one major problem; how to get back to their vehicle at the other end of the hike. Pickups and drop-offs can now be arranged through Roxanne at theLost Coast Trail Transport Service (707) 986-9909, located in Whitethorn, near the Shelter Cove trailhead. The distance from the Mattole Campground to Black Sands Beach is 24.4 miles. Driving time by road between the two points is one hour, forty-five minutes, if taking back roads, which may be in terrible condition in the wet season. The driving distance taking Briceland Rd. to the101 and driving in on the Wildcat through Ferndale is about four hours.
You are met by a company representative at the Black Sand Beach trailhead, where you will have parked your car. There is a minimum charge of $200 per trip; or $80 a person with a maximum of four persons. You are shuttled to the Mattole Campground, (via the four-hour, paved route) where you will begin your hike, since prevailing winds almost always come from the north on this coast.
Also, the Bureau of Land Management regulates shuttle services and posts permitted shuttle service providers on its website.
Lost Coast hikers have long had one major problem; how to get back to their vehicle at the other end of the hike. Pickups and drop-offs can now be arranged through Roxanne at the
You are met by a company representative at the Black Sand Beach trailhead, where you will have parked your car. There is a minimum charge of $200 per trip; or $80 a person with a maximum of four persons. You are shuttled to the Mattole Campground, (via the four-hour, paved route) where you will begin your hike, since prevailing winds almost always come from the north on this coast.
Also, the Bureau of Land Management regulates shuttle services and posts permitted shuttle service providers on its website.
