Lost Coast itinerary
Every published mile marker on the Lost Coast route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one — and which permit each stretch needs. To watch dates and set alerts, go to the Lost Coast Trail permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The Lost Coast. One reservation is a trailhead or zone plus an entry date; you roam after that, issued by reservation.
The permit is issued for a named entry point. Mattole Beach Trailhead and Black Sands Beach are the ones on this list.
- Stops mapped
- 9
- Across the markers
- 25.0 mi
- Published route length
- 24.6 mi
- Ascent, at least
- 103 ft
How long it takes: 3-4 days. That is the figure the permit publishes — this page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
The Lost Coast route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
18 ft
Mattole Beach Trailhead
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
Northern terminus at the mouth of the Mattole River. Last services for 25 miles.
2.4 miles · 37 ft up to Punta Gorda Lighthouse
Mile 2.4
55 ft
Punta Gorda Lighthouse
Decommissioned 1951 lighthouse. Popular rest stop and first tide-sensitive area.
2.3 miles · 24 ft down to Sea Lion Gulch
Mile 4.7
31 ft
Sea Lion Gulch
Prime wildlife viewing—sea lions and seals, especially June-July (newborns) and March-April.
2.1 miles · 25 ft down to Cooksie Creek
Mile 6.8
6 ft
Cooksie Creek
Common first-night camp with unique rock formations. Brief bluff bypass around rocky section.
2.0 miles · no net change to Randall Creek
Mile 8.8
6 ft
Randall Creek
Southern end of the second impassable tide zone. Frequent campsite.
0.2 miles · 16 ft up to Spanish Flat
Mile 9.0
22 ft
Spanish Flat
Historic area with spring wildflowers. Local legend speaks of buried Spanish treasure.
7.6 miles · 5 ft up to Big Flat / Miller Flat
Mile 16.6
27 ft
Big Flat / Miller Flat
Scenic stretch with hidden surf spots. Start of final impassable zone.
4.8 miles · 18 ft down to Gitchell Creek
Mile 21.4
9 ft
Gitchell Creek
Southern exit of final tide-restricted zone. Home stretch begins.
3.6 miles · 45 ft up to Black Sands Beach
Mile 25.0
54 ft
Black Sands Beach
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
Southern terminus at Shelter Cove. Dark volcanic sand beach with road access.
Getting a Lost Coast for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. Lost Coast dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations — they return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag watches Lost Coast around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.