We almost hiked this trail twice before. Things did not cooperate but we did end up with the FarOut maps and continued interest.
https://backcountryemily.com/backpacking-the-lost-coast-trail-winter/
The above link is a well written discussion and guide to the trail with great seasonal notes:
All of this to say: if you are hiking the Lost Coast Trail in the off-season, be prepared for high creek crossings. Be prepared to need to cross in your hiking shoes. These are not sandy creeks, but very, very rocky and fast-flowing creeks. You’ll need to cross in your shoes, not in “camp shoes” or “water shoes” or your flip-flops. I can honestly say that some of these creeks were stronger than the creeks I crossed in the Sierra on the PCT. Of particular concern were Spanish Creek, Big Creek, and Shipman Creek.
For preparation we reapplied permethrin to our gear and got our bear canisters ready.
There is some pretty cool wildlife on the Lost Coast. Sea Lions, seals, toads, whales, cows, birds, turkeys, elk, and… bears! That’s right, black bears exist on the Lost Coast Trail, and the BLM requires bear canisters for this hike. We never saw signs of bears, but there have been sightings of them.
https://faroutguides.com/lost-coast-trail-map/
Looks really good. We have our permits.
Other links:
- BLM site on the trail
- Mendocino Land Trust Site
- Shorter summary of the trail — and links to the Avenza maps. Great picture guide to the trail.
- Recreation.gov site where you get permits
- Some videos: