Lost Coast
King Range
Bureau of Land Management
1695 Heindon Road
Arcata, CA 95521
Phone: (707) 822-7648
All the camping on the Lost Coast demands willingness for adventure. The terrain? Rugged. With a capital "R." Try the Lost Coast Trail for a 25-mile haul twisting along the narrow sandy beach, sometimes over boulders. The King Range mountains climb right out of the sand, soaring from sea level to 4,087 feet in under a mile -- quite an impressive piece of geography indeed. And then there's the lush foliage brought by the region's high rainfall.
Along the shore, you'll find resident shorebirds and migratory passers-by. Gray whales often swim within 100 yards of the land on their southward journey in the winter. Further inland, over 300 species of native and migratory birds occupy the thick, old-growth fir forests, including spotted owls and the endangered bald eagle.
Barely any car camping exists, except for a couple of nearby campgrounds, including Shelter Cove Campground at Shelter Cove.
Getting there
Take 101 to the South Fork-Honeydew exit. Follow the signs to Honeydew (it's about 23 miles). Turn left in Honeydew to Honeydew Creek Recreation Site and Smith-Etter Road. Allow 1 hour for the 24 mile trip.
Lost Coast