King Range Office: Call ahead for hours. (707) 986-5400. 768 Shelter Cove Road, Whitethorn, CA 95589 Arcata Field Office: 1695 Heindon Rd, Arcata, CA 95521, open 7:45 am–4:30 pm, Mon.–Fri. (707)825-2300. Internet: www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcata.html A large, full-color map/guide to the King Range can be purchased from the BLM and area businesses.
(To Eureka & Ferndale) Petrolia Key
M Paved Roads a d t oa to R le Unpaved Roads
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oad Conservation Area Garberville P e d Thorn Junction a R E k Cove Shelter Cove e l r Thorn Fire elte Sh R Station i ve Black Sands Beach R P o r a a d c i Shelter f B i Hidden Valley r ic c Cove e Abalone Point la O n Inset d Map c Whitethorn e Nadelos Area – a 1 n Laytonville Seal Rock Wailaki T h o r Chemise Mtn n 2598 L San o s R t C Francisco Chinquapin o h 101 Mal Coombs Park a e
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R T King Range National o r a a i Conservation Area l d Sinkyone Wilderness U s U.S. 101 Ferndale to Mattole Recreation Site (North Access)...... 40 mi. 1 hr. 30 min. State Park B al e R a o r ad U.S. 101 Garberville to King Range Office (South Access)...... 16 mi. 0 hr. 35 min. H a
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Needle Rock o Black Sands Beach to Mattole Recreation Site...... 45 mi. 1 hr. 45 min. r
R d U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA’S LOST COAST
The King Range National Conservation Area is a spectacular Camping meeting of land and sea. Black sand beaches, old-growth forests The BLM maintains six campgrounds. All areas have tables, grills and and a 4,000-foot-high wall of windswept peaks beckon to toilets. Water is available at all campgrounds except for Horse Mountain, adventurous travelers willing to slow down for awhile. Honeydew Creek (stream water), and Tolkan. Fees range from $5 to Opportunities abound for activities such as camping, $8. Group camping is allowed (by reservation) at Nadelos Campground. backpacking, hunting, beach combing and surfing. If your time Private camping areas with showers, hookups and other amenities are is limited, the Shelter Cove and Mattole Beach areas offer chances found in Shelter Cove, Redway–Garberville and Ferndale–Fortuna. to sample the King Range coast without heading into the backcountry. Congress designated the King Range as the first Trails National Conservation Area in 1970. At more than 60,000 This map is not intended for use as a hiking guide. Over 80 miles acres, this 35-mile stretch of California’s “Lost Coast” is managed of trails span from beach to mountain peak and from dark forests to and protected by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). golden prairies. To provide a wilderness experience, trails have limited On October 17, 2006, two-thirds of the King Range was signing, so bring a hiking guide or topographic maps on your trip. designated as wilderness under the Northern California Wild Trails from the King Range Crest to the beach include 2,000–3,500- Heritage Act (H.R. 233). For more information on wilderness foot elevation changes. Water is ample along the coast but very scarce areas please contact the King Range office. on upland trails. Several stretches of the Lost Coast Trail are impassible at high tide. Stock animals are allowed on all trails, however, some Know Before You Go routes are not suitable for horses. The Horse Mountain Creek, Lost • Never turn your back on the ocean! Large, unexpected waves Coast and Cooskie Creek Trails are favorites for horse riders. Trailheads and a strong undertow can sweep you out to sea where powerful designed to accommodate stock trailers include Horse Mountain currents and icy waters make it impossible to survive. Creek and Mattole.
• Pets are allowed and must be kept on a leash at developed Hunting and Fishing sites. They may be allowed off leash in other areas, but must Ocean fishing and upland game hunting are both popular and are remain under voice control. regulated by the California Department of Fish and Game. All streams in the King Range are closed to fishing to protect threatened • Poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes occur throughout the salmon and steelhead trout. King Range, including the beach. Backcountry Permits • Search and rescue takes time on remote trails and roads, so Individuals, families, or “non-organized” groups now need self- be prepared and be careful! Be sure to complete backcountry-use service, backcountry-use permits in order to spend one or more permits at the trailhead (place top copy in drop box and keep nights in the King Range backcountry, including the popular Lost bottom copy) and always let someone know your itinerary. Coast Trail. The free permits, which also serve as California campfire permits for the King Range, are available in self-service boxes at • Private lands are found within and surrounding the King Range trailheads, at the King Range Office in Whitethorn, King Range. Please stay on public lands and away from and at the Bureau of Land Management Field Office in Arcata. private residences. Special Recreation Permits Weather Permits are required for all commercial outfitters as well as any Summers are mostly dry with cool fog and warm sun alternating organized group (Boy Scouts, outing clubs, etc.). Permits should on the coast and warm/hot sunny weather on the ridges. Winds be obtained well in advance of planned trips by contacting the are often very strong on the beach and exposed ridges. During BLM King Range Office in Whitethorn. winter the King Range is one of the wettest spots in the U. S. with the heaviest rains (over 100 inches) occurring from November Roads through March. Large winter storms can cause rock slides on roads Roads accessing the King Range are steep and winding. Use low and make stream crossings on trails impassible. Snow intermittently gears on downgrades, watch for oncoming traffic on one-lane covers the highest peaks. Please call the BLM to report road or trail stretches, and pull over to allow cars behind you to pass. Unimproved damage. Spring and fall are transition periods with longer sunny roads may only be accessible to high clearance or 4-wheel-drive breaks and lighter rains. vehicles. King Peak Road north of Horse Mountain Campground, and all unimproved roads are inaccessible to trailers and motor Traveler Services homes. Please tread lightly. Basic necessities including gas and groceries are available in Shelter Cove, Honeydew and Petrolia. Lodging is available in Shelter Cove. Store hours are limited in these rural towns, especially in winter. The Garberville–Redway and Ferndale–Fortuna areas have a full array of services.