King Range backpacking trip
An easy summer backpacking trip along the Northern coast through the King Range is good, outdoor family fun! The 28 mile, four day hike that ends in beautiful Shelter Cove is relaxing and good for the body and soul.
Begin your trip at Mattole, a pleasant beach walk down by the water or up in the dunes. Once off the sand, you'll hike through a long stretch of field. The long, golden grass is a beautiful and easy walk, with little terrain change. Soon, you'll come to the scenic Punta Gorda Lighthouse, a good view and perfect photo-op. Continue walking the field and youâll come to Spanish Creek, a cool and gorgeous place to set up camp. You'll find that the clean, cool water of Spanish Creek has many uses for the rest of your trip.
Day two is a hike through endless field and grassland, while occasionally crossing down to the beach or into the hills. You'll end your day's hike by crossing over a series of rivers, and camping out near the log fortresses by a large river and pond. When you go to use the water, make sure you use the fast moving water. It's cleaner and safer.
Day three is full of variety! It starts out on the beach, hiking across rocky terrain and past a short field. Then you go up, up, up a rocky mountain. And rocky it is! The mountain is literally covered in broken slate. It makes for a fun hike, and eating lunch at the top is heavenly. Then you must descend into the grassy hills (which are covered with poison oak, so be careful!). In the hills there is a nice stream that you can fill up your water bottles with. Then, out of the hills you go, onto the beach. Sometimes, the area is impassible, so try to get there at low tide! It's a narrow pass between cliffs and water, over tons of rocks. Once out of there you'll travel a while on the beach until you find a suitable spot to camp. Shelter Cove is in sight! But its farther than you think, so don't try walking the rest of the way!
Day four is fun and easy. It may feel like the easiest part of the trip. It's just smooth walking across the beach and into the streets of Shelter Cove. From there, it's a long walk through the winding streets to the main part of the town. If you're lucky, you can hitch a ride with one of the locals! Once you get into the town, you can check in to one of the many hotels available there, and enjoy a nice, relaxing stay in beautiful Shelter Cove, a perfect end to your outdoor experience.
Be prepared! Visit the King Range website at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcata/kingrange/index.html for more information.
