Introducing the Lost Coast 4x4 Loop: 330 Miles Through California's Most Untamed Coastline

The Lost Coast has always been Northern California's answer to those seeking something wilder than the well-worn paths of Big Sur or Highway 1. Rugged beaches where Roosevelt Elk outnumber tourists, ancient redwood groves that feel like cathedral halls, and ridgelines so steep they drop straight into the Pacific—this is the California that refuses to be tamed. Released in August 2025, the Lost Coast 4x4 Loop (affectionately known as the LoCo Loop) delivers 328 miles of everything that makes this region legendary, stitched together into what we believe is the ultimate way to explore the Lost Coast from Mendocino north to Rio Dell, through the Humboldt Redwoods and the interior coastal mountains of Southern Humboldt and Northern Mendocino.

The Lost Coast 4x4 Trail has been one of Overland Trail Guides' most popular routes since its release, and when the Redwood Coast Adventure Trail (RedCAT) dropped in 2023, it quickly shot to the top of the charts. The new Lost Coast 4x4 Loop takes the best of both worlds—combining the Lost Coast 4x4 Trail with the southern portion of RedCAT—to create the ultimate loop through the Lost Coast region. This isn't just another coastal cruise. The LoCo Loop takes you from the wild, remote shores of Usal Beach to California's most remote brewery (Gyppo Ale House in Shelter Cove), from the bohemian seaside village of Mendocino to the historic working harbor at Noyo in Fort Bragg. You'll hike to an abandoned lighthouse where elephant seals have claimed the coastline as their own (Punta Gorda Lighthouse), swim in the clear, cool waters of the Mattole and Eel Rivers, and stumble across roadside oddities like candelabra redwoods and a truck literally lodged in a tree—because up here, a local doctor decided that was the best way to mark his driveway. You'll drive through Bull Creek Flat, home to the largest and tallest old-growth redwood forest on Earth, before cutting inland through the backcountry where Black Bart once roamed near Bell Springs. The people out here are hardy and self-reliant, doing things their own way with a frontier independence that's rare to find these days.

The beauty of the LoCo Loop isn't just what you'll see—it's that almost anyone can do it. Adventure riders will find this route perfect for 3-4 days in the saddle, while overlanders can stretch it to 4-5 days whether you're rolling in a Sprinter van, a stock 4x4, or even an AWD crossover. The vast majority of the route follows wide, graded dirt roads with just a few steep and narrow sections mixed in—nothing that should intimidate most drivers that have a few miles in the seat driving off road.

If you've been looking for a way to truly experience the Lost Coast—not just pass through it—the LoCo Loop is your ticket. It's weird, it's wild, and it's worth every mile.

Visit the Lost Coast 4x4 Loop Route Page

Trip Length:  3-6 days, 328 miles Season: Late May - October (Usal Road is gated during the wet season (typically late October to mid-May). Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4

Recommended Moto: Mid-weight is recommended to deal with the rough and steep terrain along Usal and Saddle Mountain roads, but skilled riders should be able to manage the entire route on a big bike.

Adventure Vans: Sprinters and Transits (4x4 or AWD) are good to go!