TRIP 04 - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - ~220 MILES - 2-4 DAYS
Lost Coast Overland Route
A 160-mile overland route through old growth redwood forests, the King Range, and California's most remote coastline.
DISTANCE
~220 mi
DAYS
2-4 days
VEHICLE NEEDED
High clearance - 4x4 rec.
BEST SEASON
Late May - Oct
Route Map
Explore by Theme
Camping Options
Primitive beachside camping is the whole point out here - no hookups anywhere, and that's exactly right. No permit needed for vehicle camping (unlike the backpacking trail).
Usal Beach CampgroundDesignated sites on the black sand beach at the end of Usal Road — first-come, self-register, no services. The crown jewel camp of the trip; no beach driving.
Nadelos & Wailaki (BLM)Small, quiet creekside BLM camps in the southern King Range near Shelter Cove — vault toilets, small fee.
Mattole Beach (BLM)At the Mattole River mouth near Petrolia — windy, wild, and the trailhead for the Punta Gorda Lighthouse hike.
A.W. Way County ParkGrassy riverside sites near Petrolia — the gentler option if the coast is blowing a gale.
Shelter CoveInns and an RV park in the one town on the coast — good first or last night.
Activities
Drive Usal RoadMendocino Rd 431 — the narrow dirt road from Highway 1 through the Sinkyone Wilderness.
Mattole RoadThrough Petrolia and Honeydew — alternating paved and dirt with huge coastal views.
Roosevelt ElkWildlife spotting in the Sinkyone Wilderness.
Beachcombing & TidepoolingOn the black sand beaches — check the tide tables first.
King Range OHV TrailsSteep switchbacks, creek crossings, mountain views.
Avenue of the GiantsDay trip — 31 miles of old-growth redwoods.
Stargazing & Digital DetoxThere's no cell service to tempt you.
Hikes
Punta Gorda Lighthouse~6.5 mi RT · moderate — beach walk from Mattole to the abandoned 1911 lighthouse; elephant seals haul out nearby. Time it for low tide.
Black Sands BeachAs far as you like · easy — iconic black sand stretch at Shelter Cove; walk north toward the wilderness beach.
Sinkyone Bluff Trails1–4 mi · easy–moderate — short trails from Usal Beach camp up onto the coastal bluffs; whales in season.
King Peak~5 mi RT · strenuous — 4,088 ft summit rising almost straight out of the ocean; the biggest view on the Lost Coast.
Route Highlights
Mattole RoadScenic drive winding through Petrolia and Honeydew — alternates paved and unpaved with stunning coastal vistas.
Usal BeachRemote black sand beach — camp in designated sites; no beach driving permitted.
Sinkyone Wilderness SPDramatic coastal bluffs and old growth forests — watch for Roosevelt elk.
King Range OHV TrailsSteep switchbacks, creek crossings, and rock-strewn paths through the mountains.
Shelter CoveRemote coastal community — good base before heading into the backcountry.
Avenue of the GiantsHumboldt Redwoods day trip — 31-mile drive through old-growth coastal redwoods.
Tips & Logistics
SeasonLate May to October — Usal Road is gated during the wet season. Check Mendocino County road closure status before going.
VehicleHigh clearance needed everywhere; 4WD strongly recommended on Usal Road — steep, narrow, muddy when damp.
Fuel Up FirstFill up in Garberville or Fortuna — no fuel in the backcountry.
No Cell ServiceDownload offline maps — no coverage throughout.
No Permit NeededVehicle camping needs no permit — unlike the backpacking version of the Lost Coast Trail.
Dogs WelcomeAllowed on leash throughout this route.