King Range

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) Key Petrolia t ho Roa d gh Unpaved Roads Unimproved Roads Hiking & Stock Trails le Pro s p e r Li ad tt o Mattole Paved Roads Ma Ro u se Trailhead A.W. Way County Park Ri dg e Rd Creek 2950 Mattole Fire Station l Trai e C oo skie Tr a Punta Gorda Lighthouse il Honeydew Spu r Tr ail Honeydew Creek Im Tr it h – Tr ail ge Rid K ing ke ttl es na Ra Rang e d Saddle Mtn T k Tr Cr ee c g Horse Mtn L e t as Co Paradis e d Ti Horse Mtn Creek – k Tr Mt rs e ge Road Pea k ad r Hidden Valley B ri ce lan d ic O Shelter Cove Thorn Junction Thorn Fire Station Rd Cov e r el te Ro R iv e cif Nadelos Wailaki Seal Rock Th Road e Nick’s Camp M tn Roa arbor R d r H B ea Needle Rock sa U Sinkyone Wilderness State Park d Trail King Range National Conservation Area U.S. 101 Ferndale to Mattole Recreation Site (North Access).........40 mi. 1 hr. 30 min. U.S. 101 Garberville to King Range Office (South Access).............16 mi. 0 hr. 35 min. Black Sands Beach to Mattole Recreation Site.................................45 mi. 1 hr. 45 min. Chemis Willits Coast 20 Chinquapin Trail Lost 2598 Fort Bragg Mal Coombs Park 101 orn Chemise Mtn San Francisco Whitethorn – cean Laytonville Sh Black Sands Beach Abalone Point 1 Rid Ee l Pa Inset Map Area K ing Ho Garberville Shelter Cove King Range Office rn Rd o Th and Fire Station Tolkan n il Tra Cr e e Weott King Range National Co n s e r va t i o n A re a ad Hi Ro Bu g u rg rin d Du sb ter e Et King Peak Rd abl Mtn R ass e Imp dd l Sa Pa Ettersburg R ci 4088 h ver 36 5 t os Ri C A PE MENDOCINO 4 King Peak Trail M ad 3 N ad IG 2 Scale in Miles Tra il Crest A 1 Ro Crest g Ki n Ferndale L Tr a il Eureka Fortuna F B 0 Lightning Loop 101 Trailer, Tent Sites 1 Miller il Tra O an n c a fi ce Launching Ramp Tent Sites North Slide Peak t as Co c Willow Creek 299 d g Kin 50 miles Arcata oa r R st 25 Gas Station elan d e Rid g i y nse Kinsey Ridge m Lo 15 Campfire Permits ge K e 10 Picnic Area Grocery Store Rid c O 5 Horse Trailheads Food Service B ric R Ti d e Ette k g Tra il gh r eT i dg S in fi Hi Lodging er ur ci Spanish Ridge il Tra D as Co le t 3490 0 W il d k ab Cree Spanish ss Cooskie st Lo pa Pa Hiking Trail (To Garberville & US 101) Creek Wildlife Viewing Information ll Cooskie Mtn Cooski e Rd Lighthouse Bu l ab ss e p a Ti d Tr a i l I m i g h H D ur in g (To Weott & US 101) l Ro ad 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 meeting of land and sea. Black sand beaches, old-growth forests and a 4,000-foot-high wall of windswept peaks beckon to adventurous travelers willing to slow down for awhile. Opportunities abound for activities such as camping, backpacking, hunting, beach combing and surfing. If your time is limited, the Shelter Cove and Mattole Beach areas offer chances to sample the King Range coast without heading into the backcountry. Congress designated the King Range as the first National Conservation Area in 1970. At more than 60,000 acres, this 35-mile stretch of California’s “Lost Coast” is managed and protected by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). On October 17, 2006, two-thirds of the King Range was designated as wilderness under the Northern California Wild Heritage Act (H.R. 233). For more information on wilderness areas please contact the King Range office. Know Before You Go • Never turn your back on the ocean! Large, unexpected waves and a strong undertow can sweep you out to sea where powerful currents and icy waters make it impossible to survive. • Pets are allowed and must be kept on a leash at developed sites. They may be allowed off leash in other areas, but must remain under voice control. • Poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes occur throughout the King Range, including the beach. • Search and rescue takes time on remote trails and roads, so be prepared and be careful! Be sure to complete backcountry-use permits at the trailhead (place top copy in drop box and keep bottom copy) and always let someone know your itinerary. • Private lands are found within and surrounding the King Range. Please stay on public lands and away from private residences. Weather Summers are mostly dry with cool fog and warm sun alternating on the coast and warm/hot sunny weather on the ridges. Winds are often very strong on the beach and exposed ridges. During winter the King Range is one of the wettest spots in the U. S. with the heaviest rains (over 100 inches) occurring from November through March. Large winter storms can cause rock slides on roads and make stream crossings on trails impassible. Snow intermittently covers the highest peaks. Please call the BLM to report road or trail damage. Spring and fall are transition periods with longer sunny breaks and lighter rains. Traveler Services 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. Camping The BLM maintains six campgrounds. All areas have tables, grills and toilets. Water is available at all campgrounds except for Horse Mountain, Honeydew Creek (stream water), and Tolkan. Fees range from $5 to $8. Group camping is allowed (by reservation) at Nadelos Campground. Private camping areas with showers, hookups and other amenities are found in Shelter Cove, Redway–Garberville and Ferndale–Fortuna. Trails This map is not intended for use as a hiking guide. Over 80 miles of trails span from beach to mountain peak and from dark forests to golden prairies. To provide a wilderness experience, trails have limited signing, so bring a hiking guide or topographic maps on your trip. Trails from the King Range Crest to the beach include 2,000–3,500foot elevation changes. Water is ample along the coast but very scarce on upland trails. Several stretches of the Lost Coast Trail are impassible at high tide. Stock animals are allowed on all trails, however, some routes are not suitable for horses. The Horse Mountain Creek, Lost Coast and Cooskie Creek Trails are favorites for horse riders. Trailheads designed to accommodate stock trailers include Horse Mountain Creek and Mattole. Hunting and Fishing Ocean fishing and upland game hunting are both popular and are regulated by the California Department of Fish and Game. All streams in the King Range are closed to fishing to protect threatened salmon and steelhead trout. Backcountry Permits Individuals, families, or “non-organized” groups now need selfservice, backcountry-use permits in order to spend one or more nights in the King Range backcountry, including the popular Lost Coast Trail. The free permits, which also serve as California campfire permits for the King Range, are available in self-service boxes at King Range trailheads, at the King Range Office in Whitethorn, and at the Bureau of Land Management Field Office in Arcata. Special Recreation Permits Permits are required for all commercial outfitters as well as any organized group (Boy Scouts, outing clubs, etc.). Permits should be obtained well in advance of planned trips by contacting the BLM King Range Office in Whitethorn. Roads Roads accessing the King Range are steep and winding. Use low gears on downgrades, watch for oncoming traffic on one-lane stretches, and pull over to allow cars behind you to pass. Unimproved roads may only be accessible to high clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicles. King Peak Road north of Horse Mountain Campground, and all unimproved roads are inaccessible to trailers and motor homes. Please tread lightly.