California Coastal Access Guide, Seventh Edition. California Coastal Commission
CENTERVILLE BEACH COUNTY PARK: Centerville Rd., 5 mi. W. of Ferndale. Wide sandy beach; steep beach and riptides make swimming inadvisable. Day use only; call: 707-445-7651.
▪ Fishing for surfperch or smelt
▪ Off-highway vehicles allowed on waveslope only, with seasonal closures March–September
FLEENER CREEK BEACH TRAIL: Centerville Rd., 6 mi. S.W. of Ferndale. Blufftop gravel parking area; steep half-mile trail to a sandy beach. Open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Call: 707-825-2300.
GUTHRIE CREEK BEACH TRAIL: Centerville Rd., 8 mi. S.W. of Ferndale. A mile-long trail leads to the mouth of Guthrie Creek on a narrow sandy beach backed by high cliffs. Call: 707-825-2300.
MATTOLE ROAD: Singley Creek to McNutt Gulch. An eight-mile stretch of road borders the shoreline. Beaches, dunes, and rocky areas accessible at three locations: one mile, two miles, and three miles south of Singley Creek, and also on the north side of Russell Chambers Bridge across McNutt Gulch, where there is a gap in the fence. The path at McNutt Gulch is 20 feet wide; the others are 50 feet wide. Private property is adjacent; do not trespass. Limited shoulder parking.
Humboldt County
Mattole River and King Range
MATTOLE RIVER AND BEACH: W. end of Lighthouse Rd., 5 mi. W. of Petrolia. At the end of the paved road, 14 tent or trailer campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, and potable water.
PUNTA GORDA LIGHTHOUSE: 3 mi. S. of Mattole River Beach on Lost Coast Trail. An out-and-back hike on the Lost Coast Trail from Mattole Beach to the lighthouse, 3.6 miles each way; check tide table in advance and carry water.
A.W. WAY COUNTY PARK: Mattole Rd., 6 mi. S.E. of Petrolia. Thirty campsites by the Mattole River; picnic tables, firepits, and running water.
KING RANGE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA: Mattole River Beach to S. of Shelter Cove. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 68,000 acres, much of it wilderness. Over 80 miles of hiking trails, many of them steep, from peaks down to ocean level. Most roads not suitable for trailers; some require four-wheel-drive vehicles. The Lost Coast Trail runs the length of the shoreline and connects to Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. A map in hand is essential; visit the King Range visitor center on Shelter Cove Rd. one mile west of Thorn Junction, or call: 707-986-5400.
Camping allowed at developed campgrounds and on BLM public lands, except where specifically closed, such as at Shelter Cove; check signs or BLM maps. Permits (no-fee) required for all overnight use of the back country, including the Lost Coast Trail. Permits available at self-service boxes at trailheads and the King Range visitor center. Special recreation use permits required for all organized commercial and non-commercial trips.
▪ For guided summertime hikes, call: 707-986-5415
▪ For hunting regulations, check with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (707-445-6493)
LOST COAST TRAIL: From Mattole River Beach to Black Sands Beach, Shelter Cove. A 24.8-mile trail offering a true wilderness experience along the beach. Many hikers start at Mattole River Beach, with prevailing northwest winds at their backs. Punta Gorda and two trail segments of several miles each are impassable at high tide; check trailhead signs and consult a tide table in advance. Campers bring tents or use driftwood shelters; be prepared for changeable weather. A few private cabins lie along the route; do not trespass.
▪ For shuttle services between trailheads, call Lost Coast Shuttle (707-986-7437) or Lost Coast Adventure Tours (707-986-9895)
Keep in Mind
Stream water must be purified for drinking
Food and scented items must be stored overnight in bear-resistant canisters
Note fire restrictions
Dogs allowed on leash in developed campgrounds; under voice control elsewhere
HORSE MOUNTAIN CREEK CAMPGROUND: KingPeak Rd., 3.6 mi. N. of Shelter Cove Road. Campground on a ridge and accessible by road; picnic tables and fire rings.
TOLKAN CAMPGROUND: King Peak Rd., 6.5 mi. N. of Shelter Cove Road. On a ridge and accessible by road; picnic tables and fire rings. Campground has potable water and wheelchair access; near the Paradise Royale Mountain Bike Trail.
Humboldt County
Shelter Cove
BLACK SANDS BEACH: N. end of Beach Rd., Shelter Cove. Main parking area with rest-rooms is high on the bluff; a drop-off-only area is part-way down the steep slope. Black Sands Beach is the southern terminus of the Lost Coast Trail. About four miles north, the trail is not passable at high tide; plan accordingly. A bulletin board at the trailhead describes the Lost Coast Trail segments where high water limits access. Dogs OK, but the rocky beach can be hard on paws. For information on Black Sands Beach, the King Range, or the Lost Coast Trail, call: 707-986-5400.
LITTLE BLACK SANDS BEACH: W. end of Dolphin Dr., Shelter Cove. Overlook at the edge of a black sand beach; no facilities. Use caution, as the bluff is heavily eroded.
ABALONE POINT: Lower Pacific Dr., Shelter Cove. Picnic area west of Upper Pacific Drive. Interpretive panels describe the geology of the area.
▪ Dramatic views of the Lost Coast
SEAL ROCK: Lower Pacific Dr., Shelter Cove. Small blufftop park with picnic tables and interpretive panels. No beach access.
▪ Migrating gray whales may be spotted, November–early May
MAL COOMBS PARK: Lower Pacific Dr., Shelter Cove. The park near Point Delgada is marked by the old Cape Mendocino Lighthouse, built in 1868 and later moved here from its original location some 35 miles to the north. Picnic tables; stairs to rocky beach.
SHELTER COVE: W. end of Shelter Cove Rd., 21.1 mi. from old Hwy. 101 (Business Route) in Redway. Take Briceland-Thorn Rd. west from Redway a distance of 12 miles to Thorn Junction. At the junction take the right fork, Shelter Cove Rd., which continues to the coast as a steep and winding but paved roadway. The King Range National Conservation Area visitor center is on Shelter Cove Rd. one mile from Thorn Junction; open weekdays, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; call: 707-986-5400. A large color map and guide to the King Range is for sale; information also available on backpacker shuttle services.
▪ Shelter Cove is a residential community at Point Delgada surrounded by the King Range National Conservation Area. Upper and Lower Pacific drives form a loop; at the south end of the loop is the main cove, with a boat launch area. Mario’s Marina complex on the 100-foot-high bluff includes boat launching service and facilities, motel, and restaurant; call: 707-986-7595. Additional lodging facilities and services are available at Shelter Cove.
▪ Shelter Cove Campground and Deli is opposite Mario’s Marina
▪ Outcast