Discovering California''s Lost Coast

When travelers think of California they often picture of Hollywood, surfers, Yosemite, the desert, San Francisco, wine country, or Silicon Valley. These well-known areas remain more popular than many lesser-known and less-frequented locations all over the state. Along the northern Pacific Coast, a very special section of California remains wild and untamed, called the Lost Coast.

The famous California Route 1 spans from Orange County to Mendocino County and covers over 650 miles in distance. As you continue north, Route 1 joins U.S. 101. Where the two routes converge, the Lost Coast begins. To visit the Lost Coast, you will need to park your RV somewhere (unfortunately the nearest Harvest Hosts location is over 3 hours away in Calpella, CA, find more RV camping in California here), as The Lost Coast of California is a section of the coast with no access roads. The twenty-five-mile wilderness of forests and beaches has to be explored on foot or by passenger vehicle.

Things to do there

The Lost Coast is on many bucket lists for backpackers. Not only can you find the raw, natural beauty of the coast, but the Lost Coast is also home to the King Range Wilderness. These mountains offer easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes. Reaching the 4,000-foot peaks involves a three-day backpacking trip, but it’s absolutely worth it. Hikers are continuously in awe of the sweeping views. However, if you intend to do more than a day hike, a permit is required for safety purposes.A more laid-back favorite activity on the Lost Coast is wildlife viewing. It’s not uncommon for visitors to see sea lions, harbor seals, Roosevelt Elk, and several bird species. A pro-tip is to bring some binoculars to be able to view all the available wildlife. Another great wildlife opportunity lies in the tidepools that are teeming with life. Starfish, sea urchins, crabs, and more little sea critters call these tidepools home. Most importantly, remember that no matter how small, wildlife should only be observed and never touched. 

There is one scenic drive that comes close to the Lost Coast but doesn’t actually enter it. This drive takes four hours round trip to complete and can be very bumpy, narrow, and windy in some areas. Beginning in Ferndale, California, you will want to take Mattole Road south through Capetown and Black Sand Beach, which is a great stopping point  for lunch. Next, continue on to Petrolia and Honeydew. Finally, continue north to Humboldt Redwoods State Park, which is your access back to U.S. 101. This is a great place to park your RV if you intend on driving the scenic drive and have either a towed or tow vehicle available to you. If you stop at the Redwoods State Park, the drive is only two-and-a-half hours in total.