Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: California Lost Coast Backpacking
Day 1 Meet in Santa Rosa and hike among the Redwoods en route to camp
4-hour private van transfer
Meet in Santa Rosa and hike among the Redwoods en route to camp. Our trip begins today at the Charles M.Schulz? Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa. Following an orientation and gear check, we load into our support van and drive to Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home of some of the world' s most majestic and ancient redwoods. We enjoy a short hike among these impressive trees, and then transfer to our campsite. Our guides prepare dinner and talk about the adventure ahead.
Accommodation: Humboldt Redwoods State Park Campground
(D)
Day 2 Visit a lighthouse and enjoy spectacular views of the California Coast
30-minutes transfer
6.3 miles backpacing
We load our backpacks with our personal gear and a portion of the group gear, then transfer a short distance to the trailhead. We begin our hike on sand, dotted with colorful ice plant and other coastal flora. The sand gives way to beach pebbles and bits of trail on solid ground as we near the Punta Gorda Lighthouse. Build in 1910 after a number of fatal shipwrecks off this rocky coast, this lighthouse is one of the few signs of civilization that we encounter on our adventure. Continuing our hike, we cross a rocky stretch to an overland detour around an impassable rock outcrop. Our short detour will afford us spectacular vistas up and down the rugged coastline, and we may see elephant seals. Tonight we camp at Cooskie Creek.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp - California Lost Coast Trail Backcountry
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Backpack from Cooskie Creek to Big Creek
7 miles backpacking
Our backpacking trip continue south across cobbles and coarse black sand until we reach a grassy terrace. We pay close attention to the timing of the tides since high tide renders stretches of coastline along our route impassable. Our goal is to reach Big Creek campsite by midafternoon, leaving us free to explore, comb the beach 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 Backpack through lush scenery to Gitchell Creek
7.6 backpacking
We hike through thickets of twisted pine trees and cross several creeks on our way to camp at Gitchell Creek. This stretch of coastline is particularly lush, with several springs pouring from the mountainside and onto the sand, sustaining hanging wildflower gardens bright with monkey flower and other water-loving plants. This stretch of coast is particularly dramatic, with mountains and forest dropping precipitously down to the beach.
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Complete our journey to Black Sands Beach and return to Santa Rosa
3-hour private van transfer
3.7 miles backpacking
Complete our journey to Black Sands Beach and return to Santa Rosa. We hike across wide sandy beaches to our van waiting at Black Sands Beach. We stop to purchase lunch en route(own expense). We expect to arrive in Santa Rosa late this afternoon, though this may vary depending on trail and road conditions, group pace and weather.
(B)