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Black Sands Beach loop from Shelter Cove

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Black Sands Beach loop from Shelter Cove

Easy

4.9

(8861)

17,535

hikers

Black Sands Beach loop from Shelter Cove

01:41

6.52km

30m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 11, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

King Range Wilderness

Rocks and Islands Wilderness

King Range National Conservation Area

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

237 m

Black Sands Beach trailhead - Shelter Cove

Highlight • Beach

This eponymous black sandy beach is the Trailhead to the the northern, beachy section of the Lost Coast Trail. Some people only hike this northern section and return from Black Sands Beach to Mattole with a shuttle from Shelter Cove. To enjoy the whole coast, continue to the Southern half of The Lost Coast Trail; you can either walk the paved Beach Rd and Shelter Cove Rd east, or, if you prefer trails/dirt roads, leave the beach a couple of miles before reaching the trailhead, go up on Horse Mountain trail (half a mile before crossing Horse Mountain Creek), and turn south on the King Mountain Rd. It follows a ridge with great views, and when it hits Shelter Cove Rd turn left and then right after 0.4 mile toward Chemise Mountain Road.
The trailhead to The Lost Coast Trail (South Section) is on the right side after 0.2 miles. The trail is not on Komoot's OSM-map base yet as of 2016; you can follow our GPS tracks here komoot.de/tour/8420259

Tip by

483 m

Black Sands Beach

Highlight • Beach

Black Sands Beach marks the southern terminus of The Lost Coast Trail (North).

Tip by

1.16 km

Black Sands Beach

Beach

3.26 km

Horse Mountain Creek - Beach camp

Highlight • Beach

The beach rises high and forms a broad elevated terrace around Horse Mountain Creek delta, and with some giant driftwood trees it forms a natural campsite, prime sunset views included.

Tip by

6.52 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.07 km

425 m

Surfaces

6.07 km

382 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Saturday 4 July

19°C

12°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

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Black Sands Beach loop from Shelter Cove

Black Sands Beach trailhead - Shelter Cove

Black Sands Beach

Horse Mountain Creek - Beach camp

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