Usal Beach. Anderson Camp is the least scenic of Sinkyone’s trail camps; it’s OK, but there isn’t anything exciting about it. Bob Harpell says. There are several camps along this route including Jackass Camp, Wheeler Camp, and Usal Camp. The road can be steep, bumpy and uneven, and it’s not easy to pass if you encounter another car driving in the opposite direction. Sunday AM: 9:00-11:00 (optional) Hike in Usal Creek watershed with RFFI foresters to learn about the history of the area and efforts being made to conserve and protect the north coast redwoods. More popular is the northern section in the King Range National Conservation Area. The Lost Coast is a mostly natural and undeveloped area of the California North Coast in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, which includes the King Range.It was named the "Lost Coast" after the area experienced depopulation in the 1930s. I’ve been thinking about hitting the Lost Coast trail for awhile now, so when my buddy Eric from Hipcamp shot me a text last week asking if I wanted to hit the trail, I jumped on the opportunity. The League purchased the grove, along with 957 acres known as Shady Dell, from the nonprofit Redwood Forest Foundation Inc. for $5.5 million in 2011. The trail begins with a climb along an attractive redwood-covered ridge. Description. The Lost Coast Trail is divided into two sections. Although it’s in a wilderness, the trail is fairly popular and is generally in good condition, without any really steep or technically difficult sections. However, my family of four came through unscathed and had an amazing time. Share a Video . The Lost Coast Trail continues north of Usal for 53 miles, winding up and down through the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park in Mendocino County and along the beach in the BLM Kings Range National Conservation Area, ending at the Mattole River in Humboldt County. Bob Harpell says. We did a mellow 25 mile hike over 3 days on the Lost Coast Trail with 15 friends. We took Usal Rd from Hwy 1 to Shelter Cove, stopping at Usal Beach along the way. Lost Coast Trail: Bear Harbor to Usal Camp is a 20.3 kilometer moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Piercy, California that features a river and is rated as difficult. Usal Campground is remote, and is one of the southernmost points of the Lost Coast. Click or tap to view the full-size map. I might consider taking the logging road in next time to go around the slide. Then when conditions improved, the branches grew straight up. The last two and a half miles of the hike follow an old section of Briceland Thorn Road. Make sure to get a good map, these trails are barely marked and most of the camps are not. Where the north trail winds along the beach, the south goes up and over every ridge and back down to every stream and creek. Thanks to the tree cover, the climb is blissfully clear of brush. After a nice wide, level portion, there’s a steep, sandy, but slightly easier descent to Usal Beach. Sinkyone Wilderness State Park Offering campsites, fishing, guided tours, hiking or biking, horseback trails, picnic areas, visitor center. The crossing of Dark Gulch, including the last few descending switchbacks and the first few ascending switchbacks, is by far the most heavily-eroded part of the trail. Go straight at the “four corners” intersection, where the road becomes dirt. Lost Coast Trail: Bear Harbor to Usal Camp is a 12.6 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Piercy, California that features a river and is rated as difficult. The Lost Coast Trail is one of the world’s premier wilderness beach treks. The smallish dark sandy beach … Usal #1, Lost Coast Trail (GC4CJPW) was created by goldhelm1234 on 9/9/2013. There’s no parking fee at the southern trailhead. Looks like I won’t be staying at Usal Beach. Getting to Usal beach can be a little tricky, but it is well worth the effort. The coastline of the Lost Coast Trail is rugged and remote. At first the road is so narrow and overgrown that it’s almost indistinguishable from a singletrack trail. Located on a remote roadless stretch of the Northern California coastline this trail follows the path of collision between the land and sea. The trailheads start here, and on the opposite end at Needle Rock up north. The southern half of the trail is exceptionally challenging, with an extreme amount of up-and-down for a coastal trail. Lost Coast Trail To Jones Beach is 2 miles round trip; to Whale Gulch is 4.5 miles round tripThe land we now call Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, located about 225 miles north of San Francisco, has long been recognized as something special. There are two official sections of the Lost Coast Trail. At mile 1.5 the trail begins a steep and unpleasantly brush-clogged climb up an exposed hillside. Southern Lost Coast: The less frequented southern section stretches from Usal Beach to the Hidden Valley Trailhead. As this business faded away in the 1930s, the area became known as the “Lost Coast.” All vestiges of lumber production have long ago been destroyed by fire. We got a permit so a lot of the trails had untouched vegetation and a ton of fields with flower blooms for miles. The Wheeler Trail is an unmarked trail to your right that used to be a mainline logging road; until 1960 a sawmill was located right here at the bottom of the road, and timber was stacked up in the little valley between here and the beach. The trail crosses a ravine with a trickling creek where a few good-sized redwoods grow. The remote Lost Coast Trail is often faint and overgrown, so it’s especially reassuring to have a detailed, GPS-enabled map to help show you that you’re still on the trail. There are many tall ferns, trees, and other plants that overhang the trail the whole time. This terrain is so rugged that no paved roads exist along the shore for more than 50 miles except at Shelter Cove near … As the trail switchbacks uphill, the redwoods get progressively smaller, then give way to fir. The loose, sandy soils within the remarkably steep-sided canyon have resulted in steep, sandy up-and-downs, slumped trails, and dangerously narrowed hillside cuts. To show all trails and roads, click the rightmost (layers) button at the top of the mapA GPS-enabled version of this map for mobile devices is available. Much further down the trail is a final campsite in a small clearing next to some redwoods. After the beach, the trail continues through an attractive alder grove and open fields before reaching the intersection with the Wheeler Trail. Then when conditions improved, the branches grew straight up. If it’s rained within the past few weeks, though, the road gets treacherously slippery and sometimes becomes completely impassable. I was looking for some nice family camping and light 4 wheeling. Anderson Camp is at the base of these cliffs. However, the road is much more open and has some ocean views. We camped out under the stars and the camp areas were ready for backpackers with set fire places. It was scenic with endless ocean views. ! Beware of poison oak and the hanging ferns that will cut you good if you go through them too quickly. This grove is actually an isolated part of Sinkyone Wilderness. We spent the night in Shelter Cove, with most of the group camping at Wailaki Campground. Dark Gulch and redwood-encrusted Timber Point. The northern half, which is by far the most popular section, and what we hiked, is 25 miles from Mattole Beach to Black Sands Beach, with the trail mostly consisting of sandy - rocky beach and grassy bluffs. Fortunately it’s much shorter, and it also has the best views of the entire hike, of the glittering ocean and the impressively tall, steep, redwood-covered bluffs both to the north and south. In fact the entire area is so secluded that even on a Labor Day weekend, I didn’t see a single person in the area all day. Land managers require camping in designated campgrounds along the Lost Coast. The stretch of trail from Usal Camp to Wheeler camp features a good amount of hiking along the cliffs of the coast and winds through a number of forest areas with beautifully lush fern growth. The Lost Coast Trail continues north of Usal for 53 miles, winding up and down through the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park in Mendocino County and along the beach in the BLM King Range National Conservation Area, ending at the Mattole River in Humboldt County. Often the trail has simply slipped away down the bluff. Wildflowers and wild strawberries abounded when we went there in April. There aren’t a whole lot of ocean views in this area, since most of the trail is lushly wooded and on summer days is often in the fog. Click to see a similar view on a foggy day. Fortunately the drive out is usually easier than the drive in. Lost Coast Trail Description. Trail Latitude (X): 39.814. We spent the night in Shelter Cove, with most of the group camping at Wailaki Campground. Any remains of the enclosure have likely been used for firewood, and all that remains now is a plastic vent pipe lying nearby in the grass. The sheer cliffs of the next stretch of coast are inaccessible by foot, so the trail begins inland several miles east from Shelter Cove, and doesn't return to the coast until near Needle Rock. Today no sign of this activity remains and the area feels remarkably wild and remote. Needing an off-road setup for rock crawling! The southern portion of the Lost Coast trail, located entirely within the confines of the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, is an underrated backpacking and hiking adventure. The trail meanders along the foot of high mountains in the King Range in southern Humboldt County and northern Mendocino County. It’s not clear when the road will reopen. The coastline of the Lost Coast Trail is rugged and remote. Highly recommend an osprey backpacking pack (for better spine support), proper hiking shoes, and a life straw. The tour can be included in your coastal tour or completed as a fun short tour that can be made into a loop or a point to point. We spent the night in Shelter Cove, with most of the group camping at Wailaki Campground. The southern Lost Coast Trail continues further into Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, eventually reaching Usal Beach, about 32 miles from Black Sands Beach. Several “locals” warned of a difficult trail. In the springtime you will see long stretches of blooming purple wild irises. The southern portion of the trail starts just outside Westport at Usal Beach and stretches 22 miles through the ups and downs of the hill-studded backcountry to Needle Rock Visitor Center.You can use Highway 1 north of Westport to get to Usal Beach. Share a Photo . The length of this section is misleading; it feels more like 10 miles and will take at least as long as a typical 10-mile hike. October 13th, 2017 at 1:26 am; Max Says: Really sad to read about the squaters and issues up there. The trail along the bluffs can be a bit treacherous as the bluffs are steep and the ground is soft. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. The trail finally improves as it climbs out of the canyon, but then there’s more brush. Epic coastal views abound, and hikers ascend over 1,500 feet in elevation over the 24 miles. The Lost Coast Trail continues north of Usal for 53 miles, winding up and down through the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park in Mendocino County and along the beach in the BLM King Range National Conservation Area, ending at the Mattole River in Humboldt County. Certain campgrounds (Humboldt Redwoods, Mattole) fill up in the summer, so plan your adventure accordingly. Humboldt State Redwoods (any campground, gets busy!) Usal beach is the southern terminus of the 80-mile Lost Coast trail starting from Mattole river. A lot of the trail gets pretty brushy though, pay attention to your direction! Little Jackass Creek Beach is a hike-in only beach located in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. The Lost Coast Trail is divided into two sections. The Usal-Shady Dell property is situated adjacent to the county-maintained Usal Road and the southern beginning to the Lost Coast Trail and serves as one of the few areas easily accessible by vehicle in this otherwise roadless section of coastal California. 1) About The Lost Coast Area. Several “locals” warned of a difficult trail. Most people are familiar with the classic Lost Coast route up north, a 24 mile FLAT beach hike. California coast. A short spur to the left crosses a footbridge, leading to a beach with a view of the cliffs that you just walked over. The toilet is completely exposed in the middle of a field. It is overgrown in parts and ticks can be an issue. Little Jackass Creek Beach. The Lost Coast Trail starts at Usal Beach at the south end of the park and meanders north for […] See details . We had planned to take King's Peak Road to Honeydew; however it was closed due to a wildfire so we had to improvise. ! If you’re up for a bit of challenge this hike is for you! It runs 24.6 miles from Mattole in the north to Black Sands Beach in the south, near Shelter Cove. October 13th, 2017 at 1:26 am; Max Says: Really sad to read about the squaters and issues up there. Usal Beach is the southern trailhead of the 63 mile Lost Coast Trail. GPS-enabled version of this map for mobile devices, The Roots of Motive Power’s August 2002 issue. Take one of the Redway exits and continue to the town of Redway, then turn onto Briceland-Thorn Road toward Shelter Cove. On a clear day the views of the coastline are stunning and you are almost guaranteed to come across some elk. Camping: The entire area at Usal Beach area is part of the State Park and is open to camping. Little Jackass Creek (not to be confused with Jackass Creek, which is further down the trail at Wheeler Beach) has the most attractive campground of the hike. The fact that a lot of these areas are hard to access make it ideal for overland exploring. The road is pleasant but unexceptional; compared to the singletrack, it’s a little dull. The Lost Coast Trail is a popular summer backpacking route along the shoreline of a remote region in Northern California. Unusually, there are also maples; the lighter foliage of the maples contrasts with the darker, more formal-looking redwoods and gives the grove a distinctively friendly, leafy appearance. Camp Usal is an isolated camground in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. Conveniently, there’s a parking lot here if you’re planning on backpacking your way up the Lost Coast trail. The Lost Coast is a mostly natural and undeveloped area of the California North Coast in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, which includes the King Range.It was named the "Lost Coast" after the area experienced depopulation in the 1930s. There’s no path to the shore from Anderson Camp. The Lost Coast Trail makes a nice, easy descent through mixed woodland. From here you will have an excellent view of the ocean, the beach, and the forested area below. Take Highway 1 to Usal Road. But the ruggedness of this area is why it is such an unspoiled beauty (Highway 1 couldn't be developed through here; it went around and this area remains isolated). A web browser that supports HTML5 is required to view the map. A lot of downed branches in the wooded areas but nothing impassable. Usal Creek is the southernmost drainage basin unbridged by California State Route 1 on California's Lost Coast.The unpaved county road following the westernmost ridge line south from the King Range crosses Usal Creek near the Pacific coast, but the bridge may be removed during winter months. Look for mile marker 90.88 on PCH. Here’s the northern trailhead location in Google Maps. It’s another easy descent through redwoods to reach Anderson Gulch. The trail begins at the Usal Beach campground, named for the USA Lumber Company, which built a sawmill here in 1889. There are two campsites: one under the trees next to a brook in the bottom of a steep-sided canyon, and another in a grassy field next to the toilet. Needing an off-road setup for rock crawling! It ends at the mouth of the Mattole River in King Range National Conservation Area,more than 50 trail miles from Usal Beach. The full section is about 22 miles long, we decreased this mileage a little by ending at the slightly more convenient Needle Rock Visitor’s center for a total of 19.4 miles. Length 27.9 miElevation gain 6624 ftRoute type Point to point. The so-called “Enchanted Forest” will become accessible to hikers on Friday via a new 2.3-mile trail at the southern end of the 58-mile Lost Coast trail, according to Save the Redwoods League. The League purchased the grove, along with 957 acres known as Shady Dell, from the nonprofit Redwood Forest Foundation Inc. for $5.5 million in 2011. Add a Symbol . About a half-mile in is a brief break in the woods with a nice viewpoint. To the north, the King Range section of the Lost Coast Trail is more of a beach walk. Lost Coast Trail To Jones Beach is 2 miles round trip; to Whale Gulch is 4.5 miles round tripThe land we now call Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, located about 225 miles north of San Francisco, has long been recognized as something special. Located in a lush glen surrounded by precipitously steep, high, redwood-covered hills, the campground is set in an old-growth redwood grove (maybe part of the Sally Bell Grove), with 10 or 12 medium-sized redwoods visible from the trail. Near the bottom, the trail becomes brushy and overgrown again. Hikers can view sea lions, tidepools and spectacular spring wildflowers. I have on two occasions! It’s one of the highlights of the hike. This is Chase Grove. The northern section starts at Mattole Beach and is 24.6 miles on mostly level terrain, following the beach and meadows. There’s a little up-and-down as the trail continues through woods and open coastal scrub. 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