Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: California Lost Coast Backpacking
Day 1 Arrive in Santa Rosa & Hike Humboldt Redwoods State Park
4-hour private van transfer
1-2 miles/1 hour hiking
Meet your group at Charles M. Schulz Airport in Santa Rosa, where you'll have an orientation and gear check with your guide. Then set off on your journey north to Humboldt Redwoods State Park—home to some of the world's tallest and oldest redwoods! Take a short hike among these impressive trees, then transfer to your campsite, where your expert MT Sobek guides will prepare dinner and discuss the adventure ahead.
Accommodation: Humboldt Redwoods State Park Campground
(D)
Day 2 Backpack to Punta Gorda Lighthouse & Along the California Coast
30-minute private transfer
6.3 miles/4-5 hours backpacking
Load up your backpack with personal gear and your portion of the group gear, then transfer a short distance to the trailhead. Your hike begins on sand, dotted with colorful ice plants and other coastal flora. The sand gives way to beach pebbles and bits of trail on solid ground as you approach the Punta Gorda Lighthouse. Built in 1910 after several fatal shipwrecks off this rocky coast, the lighthouse is one of the few signs of civilization you'll encounter on your adventure. Cross a rocky stretch to an overland detour around an impassable rock outcrop, leading you to spectacular vistas up and down the rugged coastline. Keep an eye out for elephant seals! Tonight, camp at Cooskie Creek.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp - California Lost Coast Trail Backcountry
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Trace the Pacific Ocean to Big Creek Camp
7 miles/5-6 hours backpacking
Your adventure continues south from Cooksie Creek, following a rugged stretch of coastline across cobbles and coarse black sand until you reach a grassy terrace. The route requires close attention to the timing of the tides, as several sections become impassable at high tide. Flexibility and a sense of adventure are key today! The goal is to reach Big Creek campsite by midafternoon. With camp set up, you'll likely have the afternoon free to wander the beach, search for shells and driftwood, or find a quiet spot to kick back with a book and enjoy the solitude.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp - California Lost Coast Trail Backcountry
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Hike to Gitchell Creek Through Lush Landscapes
7.6 miles/6-7 hours backpacking
Today's hike takes you from Big Creek, through thickets of twisted pine trees and across several babbling creeks on your way to camp at Gitchell Creek. This stretch of the Lost Coast is particularly lush, with several glistening springs pouring from the mountainside and onto the sand, sustaining hanging wildflower gardens bright with monkey flowers and other water-loving plants. You may also encounter wildlife, such as deer, sea otters, and sea birds. The scenery here is particularly dramatic, with mountains and forest dropping precipitously down to the beach. Reach your camp, stroll along the sand, and be mesmerized by the rolling waves of the Pacific.
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Finish at Black Sands Beach & Depart
3-hour private van transfer
3.7 miles/2-3 hours backpacking
Today marks the final leg of your Lost Coast adventure, culminating at Black Sands Beach. You'll hike across the dark sand on the wide beach, listening to the sound of the surf, which has been your constant companion over the last few days. Savor one last look at this wild coastline and celebrate your backpacking accomplishment. Our van will be waiting to collect you and your gear. Then set off for Santa Rosa, stopping to purchase lunch enroute. You should arrive in Santa Rosa late this afternoon, though this may vary depending on trail and road conditions, group pace, and weather..
(B)
