OTG's First Ever Trail Run: Lost Coast 4x4 Trail (May 20-23)

[OTG Ben]

Guest List: Closed
Dates: Thurs May 20 - May 23
Venue or Route: Lost Coast 4x4 Trail
Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4
Fuel Stops: Approx 175 miles between gas stations in Laytonville to Petrolia.
Meeting Location: 12pm on Thursday May 20 @ at the Tesla Supercharger in Laytonville (be sure you top off your fuel tank in town before arriving).
https://goo.gl/maps/wNcygk1Vob5S8mZVA

GPX Files: hidden
Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1LpHcXwFOSDZFpF7ZSxNzVqJGzvMxIfon&usp=sharing
The Lost Coast 4x4 Trail is a paid route on OTG. If you'd like the GPX/KMZ files for this route, you'll need to buy a subscription or purchase the route. Recording GPX tracks while on the trail is permitted. The GPX file provide here does not contain all of the route trails or waypoints.

Things to
Know and/or Bring:
- Good vibes and a can do attitude!
- Bring at least $35 cash, including small bills (campsite fees at BLM sites and AW Way County Park/Campground)
- 3+ days of food and water
- Cash for BLM and county campsites (bring at least $35 including small bills)
- Appropriate attire for cooler weather along the coast (nights may dip into the 40s)
- A good pair of hiking boots
-A good camera
- Be prepared to pack out all waste/garbage
- Communications device if you have one (HAM radio freq 146.460)
- Well behaved dogs are welcome! (please leave Fido at home if he/she is aggressive towards people or animals, barks, begs for food)
- Please leave all firearms at home. Using or discharging a firearm is not permitted in CA State Parks or King Range NCA

Daily Itinerary
- Each day will consist of approximately 40-50 miles of mostly dirt roads and some pavement
- Be prepared to be backed and ready to hit the trail between 9:30-10am each day
- Day 1 Camp: Usal Beach, Day 2 Camp: Tolkan Campground, Day 3 Camp: AW Way County Park

Leave No Trace / Tread Lightly
OTG subscribes and supports the principles behind Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly-- better yet, leave it better than you found it! Please come prepared to pack out all of your own waste-- including solid human waste. While Usal Beach does have out houses, they are occasionally locked due to overuse.


Other Things to Know
Overland Trail Guides will be filming throughout the duration of the trip, with the intention of turning the footage into a video route guide for the Lost Coast 4x4 trail. This may entail occasional stops for filming, especially when a drone is used.

Usal Beach / Driving on the Beach is not Permitted
While many camp and drive on the beach at Usal, this is actually not permitted by State Parks. We will be abiding by their regulations and camping in one of the forest campsites, or if we're lucky, we'll see if we can snag one of the sites in the alder trees next to the beach.

 

[camtnbiker]

Looking forward to the Views and the company, be prepared to leave no trace and to pack everything out.

 

[OTG Ben]

@Lexa_Overland

You're coming to this, right? You'll like Ger (camtnbiker)-- he's good peoples!

 

[OTG Ben]

@brainwash Have you driven the section from Usal Beach up to Shelter Cove? It's a slog, especially for larger vehicles. Our buddy did it in about 2 hours in a 6 wheeled Pinzgauer, and he was exhausted after that section of trail. Mind you, he had no power steering in that beast!

 

[nckwltn]

Glad you all had a few slots open back up. I was a bit bummed when I checked <24 hours later and it was full up!

Anyone else coming up from SoCal?

Also, will there be a general route and/or GPX file circulated? I'm guessing we won't be away from civilization for 3 full days without fuel stops, right?

 

[OTG Ben]

Glad you all had a few slots open back up. I was a bit bummed when I checked <24 hours later and it was full up!

Anyone else coming up from SoCal?

Also, will there be a general route and/or GPX file circulated? I'm guessing we won't be away from civilization for 3 full days without fuel stops, right?

Hi @nckwltn . We will be doing the Lost Coast 4x4 trail starting from the south and going north. This is a paid route, so you'll need to either have a subscription or purchase the route if you'd like the GPX. Posting the GPX or KMZ files of an OTG route on the forums is forbidden per our TOS, but you're more than welcome to record the route while out on the trail! I believe we do have some others coming from SoCal-- hopefully they'll chime in!

Link to the route is here: https://www.overlandtrailguides.com/post/lost-coast-adventure-route

Regarding fuel, you're mostly right. I haven't had any issues with fuel, but I always top off before I hit the trail when I'm out that way. There is a small gas station in Petrolia at the northern end of the route, and the rest are along hwy 101 near Humboldt Redwoods SP.

 

[nckwltn]

Hi @nckwltn . We will be doing the Lost Coast 4x4 trail starting from the south and going north. This is a paid route, so you'll need to either have a subscription or purchase the route if you'd like the GPX. Posting the GPX or KMZ files of an OTG route on the forums is forbidden per our TOS, but you're more than welcome to record the route while out on the trail! I believe we do have some others coming from SoCal-- hopefully they'll chime in!

Link to the route is here: https://www.overlandtrailguides.com/post/lost-coast-adventure-route

Regarding fuel, you're mostly right. I haven't had any issues with fuel, but I always top off before I hit the trail when I'm out that way. There is a small gas station in Petrolia at the northern end of the route, and the rest are along hwy 101 near Humboldt Redwoods SP.

Thanks for the info, that should get me going!

 

[brainwash]

@brainwash Have you driven the section from Usal Beach up to Shelter Cove? It's a slog, especially for larger vehicles. Our buddy did it in about 2 hours in a 6 wheeled Pinzgauer, and he was exhausted after that section of trail. Mind you, he had no power steering in that beast!

No, I’ve never driven that. Do you think an adventure van can handle it?

 

[OTG Ben]

No, I’ve never driven that. Do you think an adventure van can handle it?

You'll be fine-- you'll probably be moving at 60% of the speed compared to those of us with "smaller" vehicles. The section from Usal to 4 Corners/Needle Rock can take a bit of endurance. Lots of winding turns, bumpy roads, and you're in the forest the entire time-- so now sweet views like coming into Usal. It's probably my least favorite section of the route, but it does get you to the good stuff to the north!

 

[genesis712]

Looking forward to the adventure! On the last day, are we just planning on packing up and heading out home? Asking cuz Portland is about 9hours away and wanted to plan the day...

 

[OTG Ben]

Looking forward to the adventure! On the last day, are we just planning on packing up and heading out home? Asking cuz Portland is about 9hours away and wanted to plan the day...

Yes, we've got people coming from Socal as well, which may be an even longer drive! Folks that want to do some more exploring will have the option to do a short-ish hike through Bull Flat, the redwood forest with the must 350' + trees on earth, on the way out to hwy 101. You're perfectly suited to breakdown camp and head out early if you need!

 

[genesis712]

Yes, we've got people coming from Socal as well, which may be an even longer drive! Folks that want to do some more exploring will have the option to do a short-ish hike through Bull Flat, the redwood forest with the must 350' + trees on earth, on the way out to hwy 101. You're perfectly suited to breakdown camp and head out early if you need!

Perfect!

 

[OTG Ben]

@genesis712 and for anyone else coming in from Oregon and north. You may way to avoid highway 101 between Crescent City and Eureka. Construction work cotinues on hwy 101 at Last Chance Grade just south of Crescent City with delays up to 2 hours (we got caught in a 1.5 hour delay about 3 weeks ago). There are windy mountain highways cut across the mountains from i-5 to 101 like highway 3, 36, and 299.

More info:

https://www.facebook.com/CaltransD1/posts/5206758409365394

 

[nckwltn]

We are planning on staying Sunday night in Eureka and then working on the drive home (SoCal) on Monday. Haven't been up to that area of CA before... any "must do" items are welcomed!

Bull Flat might be a good hike for us as we make our way back Monday, thanks!

 

[OTG Ben]

@nckwltn Do you know where you're staying in Eureka? Not to scare you off, but Eureka has major issues with transients and tweakers, and thus a lot of property damage and theft. If you're on the westside (basically where the 101 runs through town), that entire corridor is plagued with crime (especially downtown and north). If you're staying along the 101 corridor, I'd watch your vehicle and gear closely.

Some Ideas:
- Hike Bull Flat (mattole road), can go for a 10 min hike or 2 hour hike.
- Downtown Arcata (home of HSU) has a nice college vibe to it.
- Breweries in the area that would be worth checking out include Lost Coast Brewery (Eureka) and Eel River Brewing Co. (Fortuna).
- Leatherman's Bar-- riverfront access to the eel river, hang out, swim >> near founders grove (dyerville rd and ave of giants near mattole rd).
- Ave of Giants is a nice drive on your way back south, but Bull Flat (Mattole Road) actually has bigger trees so you may wish to skip it as I usually do!
- Samoa Dunes on Humboldt Bay -- BLM recreation area where beach / dune driving is permitted.
- Redwoods and tall trees aren't your thing? Consider driving north from Mattole River along the coast up to Ferndale south of Eureka.
- Patricks Point SP and Trinidad north of Eureka are both super pretty
- Trees of Mystery about 45 min north of Eureka has some really cool sky bridges you can walk on through the redwood forest (see this video, skip to 5:40)

 

[nckwltn]

@nckwltn Do you know where you're staying in Eureka? Not to scare you off, but Eureka has major issues with transients and tweakers, and thus a lot of property damage and theft. If you're on the westside (basically where the 101 runs through town), that entire corridor is plagued with crime (especially downtown and north). If you're staying along the 101 corridor, I'd watch your vehicle and gear closely.

I have cancelable reservations here ("here" is a link). I wasn't aware of the potential issues, thanks! Any alternate recommendations in the area for a 1 night hotel stay? The Best Western looks right in the heart of 101 and Downtown.

 

[OTG Ben]

@nckwltn

I'd say if your vehicle is parked in a totally secured garage, you should be fine. If it's in an open lot (no gate), Id probably look elsewhere. That's right smackdab in the middle of meth/heroin/fentanyl central that's on par with SF's tenderloin district or LA's skidrow (sad but true for such a small city).

You might try seeing what's available in Fortuna or Arcata. Another nice option in central mendocino (about 1.5 hours south) would be Ukiah, which is a charming wine country/hippie enclave. I'd also steer clear of the Garberville Area (souther humboldt), a lot of the same issues as Eureka.

 

[nckwltn]

@nckwltn

I'd say if your vehicle is parked in a totally secured garage, you should be fine. If it's in an open lot (no gate), Id probably look elsewhere. That's right smackdab in the middle of meth/heroin/fentanyl central that's on par with SF's tenderloin district or LA's skidrow (sad but true for such a small city).

You might try seeing what's available in Fortuna or Arcata. Another nice option in central mendocino (about 1.5 hours south) would be Ukiah, which is a charming wine country/hippie enclave. I'd also steer clear of the Garberville Area (souther humboldt), a lot of the same issues as Eureka.

Thanks for the tip, and all of the suggestions! I think I saw your tree bridges video earlier in the year... that is something my kids might be into... although, I have trouble getting them to climb to the top of fire towers in the Sierra's.... soooo, I'll have to run it by my wife.

 

[OTG Ben]

Some tips on the cheapest gas if you're coming from the Bay Area:

San Rafael Arco Station - 2nd Street in San Rafael
Coyote Valley Casino north of Redwood Valley (central mendocino county)

We also ask that everyone top of their tanks in Laytonville (not cheap gas!) before heading to the meetup location (Tesla Supercharger on the north end of town).

 

[KRJ]

Just confirming we will be there. Looking forward to it!