The Lost Coast is a spectacular wilderness area (completely wild, not a state park or recreation area) where it was deemed too expensive to extend the Pacific Coast Highway. A 3-4 day hike from north to south is popular and on our bucket list, but this is just a daytime jaunt from the southern trailhead in Shelter Cove, CA on Black Sands Beach.
- Beach is rocky, booties are recommended for dogs
- Road to Shelter Cove may be impassable during poor conditions which aren't infrequent during rainy season
- The beach is impassable at high tide starting about 4 miles north from southern trailhead. Do not hike past this point on a day hike, and carefully plan your passage using tide charts during a through hike.
