Lost Coast 4x4 Trail

With its old growth redwood forests, spectacular coastal mountains, and rugged coastline, the Lost Coast might just be the quintessential overland adventure of Northern California.

Route Overview

Trip Length & Season

Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 2 - 4 days, 160 miles Season: Late May - October (Usal Road is gated during the wet season (typically late October to mid-May), check Mendocino County dept of transportation for closure status).

Digital Maps & GPX File

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• Lost Coast 4x4 Trail

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Technical Ratings & Terrain

Avg Trail Rating: 2 Peak Trail Rating: 3 Typical Terrain: Dirt forest roads with a few steep sections, as well as some mild erosion and ruts between Usal Beach and Four Corners. The terrain gets steep and loose on the way up to Saddle Mountain Road. Sections of Usal Road and Saddle Mountain Road have become overgrown with encroaching brush and low hanging branches. Mud may be prevalent after heavy rains, especially in Sinkyone State Park. Some Pavement along some lesser used backroads.

Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans

Recommended Vehicle: AWD Crossover with AT tires.

Recommended Moto: Mid-weight is recommended to deal with the rough and steep terrain along Usal and Saddle Mountain roads.

Adventure Vans: Sprinter 4x4s are good to go, but beware of low hanging branches and encroaching brush on Usal and Saddle Mountain Roads.

Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear

Fuel: There are numerous opportunities to refuel along the route, including Shelter Cove, Honeydew, and Petrolia. Provisions: Opportunities for provisions in Shelter Cove, Petrolia, and Honeydew and Rio Dell. Gear: no specialized gear is recommended for this adventure.

Alternative Routes

Humboldt Redwoods Distance: 43 miles

Technical Rating: 1 This alternate route is totally paved from AW Way County Park to Avenue of Giants. If you're looking to experience the most awesome redwood forest on earth, be sure to check out Bull Creek Flats and the Big Trees Loop. Other highlights inluce the Dyerville Bar and Train Truss, Rockefeller Grove, and Avenue of Giants (but we think the drive through Bull Creek flats is even more impressive!).

Camping Recommendations

Driving vehicles on Usal Beach is prohibited per CA State Parks. Please recreate responsibly and setup camp off of the sand/beach in a designated site. Land managers require camping in designated campgrounds along the Lost Coast. Certain campgrounds (Humboldt Redwoods, Mattole Beach) fill up in the summer, so plan your adventure accordingly. $$$ All of the campgrounds below charge a fee except Usal Beach.

• Usal Beach (we recommend trying to visit on a weekday)

• Mattole Beach

• Needle Rock (no car camping, but you can rent the Barn out)

• Shelter Cove Campground

• Humboldt State Redwoods (any campground, gets busy!)

• Wailaki Campround

• Nadelos (walk-in sites)

• Tolkan Campground

• AW Way County Park (fantastic swimming along the Mattole River)

Discovery Points

• DP1 - Usal Road

• DP2 - Usal Beach

• DP3 - Four Corners

• DP4 - Needle Rock Visitors Center

• DP5 - Cape Mendocino Lighthouse

• DP6 - Gyppo Ale Mill

• DP8 - Saddle Mountain Road

• DP9 - King Peak

• DP10 - Kinsey Ridge Viewpoint

• DP11 - Honeydew Bridge

• DP12 - Mattole Valley

• DP13 - Mattole River

• DP14 - Truck-in-a-tree

• DP15 - Mattole Beach & River Mouth

• DP16 - Prosper Ridge

• DP17 - Windy Point

• DP18 - Punta Gorda Lighthouse

• DP19 - Mattole Road

• DP20 - Cape Mendocino

• DP21 - Sugarloaf Rock

• DP22 - Bear River

• DP23 - Bear River Ridge

• DP24 - Eel River

Alternate Route Discovery Points

• DP A - Bull Creek Flats

• DP B - Big Trees Loop

• DP D - Dyerville River Bar

• DP E - Dyerville Train Truss

• DP F - Avenue of the Giants

• DP G - Humboldt Redwoods Visitor Center

Permits, Papers & Resources

Permits & Papers: n/a

Resources:

• BLM, King Range National Conservation Area

• Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

• Humboldt Redwoods State Park

• Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association

Adventure Badge OTG has partnered with All Roads Taken to offer an adventure badge for this route. >> Buy your adventure badge today!

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Route Details

Big Sur seems to get all the fanfare when it comes to California's coastline. In just the past decade, more and more adventurers have come to recognize Northern California's Lost Coast as the other jewell along California's coastline. And unlike Big Sur, you won't find Highway 1 running along the coast here. If massive redwoods, wild beaches, and rugged emerald mountains are your thing, then you'll love this overland adventure! If you're lucky, you might even spot one of the Roosevelt Elk herds in Sinkyone State Park (Usal Beach, Needle Rock, and Bear Harbor are popular viewing spots). The route begins on Highway 1, about 29 miles north of Fort Bragg just before Highway 1 heads east before it conjoins with Highway 101. The southern section (Sinkyone State Park) is dominated by mixed conifer forests consisting mostly of Douglas fir and coast redwood. Usal Beach is a great place to camp on your first night, but it tends to fill up on weekends during the warmer months. If you're looking to get away from the crowds, then consider setting up camp at one of the sites around Bear Harbor. As you make your way north, you'll come to the old fishing village of Shelter Cove. Shelter Cove provides its share postcard worthy views. Consider making stops at Black Sands Beach and the old Cape Mendocino Lighthouse. As you leave Shelter Cove, you'll enter the the most rugged section of the King Range (managed by BLM), which is one of the most seismically active regions in California. The section along Saddle Mountain Road rewards the intrepid traveller with spectacular vistas over the Pacific and the best view of King's Peak (namesake peak of the King Range) along the route. Mattole Beach is a great place to set up camp, but if that's full, consider heading over to A.W. Way County Park a few miles up the road. The final leg of the journey goes from Mattole Beach to Eureka, which is an old paved road that's surrounded by rolling hills of green coastal prarie and dairy farms. You've probably worked up quite the appetite at this point! Why not reward yourself with a fresh local brew and meal at the award winning Lost Coast Brewery and Taproom in downtown Eureka.

If you want to see some truly gargantuan redwoods, we recommend taking a look at the Lost Coast Route #2, which incorporates Humboldt Redwoods State Park and Avenue of the Giants (scroll down).

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