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Winter

  Attention: Due to extreme winter storms, most trails in the King Range Wilderness are impassable. Backpacking and hiking are discouraged at this time due to landslides, downed trees, high creek levels, and snow which are impacting the trails.


The Road Between Mattole and Black Sands Beach is closed.


Check Other Road Conditions.






Before heading out to the King Range this winter to go backpacking research the current and projected conditions.


If it's sunny or storming is only one factor to consider.


Also be aware of the marine conditions - large swells will make it extremely difficult and hazardous to hike on the beach.




FOR EXAMPLE:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 53. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Light north wind.

Meanwhile...

Beach Hazards Statement

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
415 AM PST FRI JAN 27 2017

CAZ101-103-104-109-272015-
/O.CON.KEKA.BH.S.0002.000000T0000Z-170128T0000Z/
COASTAL DEL NORTE-NORTHERN HUMBOLDT COAST-SOUTHWESTERN HUMBOLDT-
MENDOCINO COAST-
415 AM PST FRI JAN 27 2017

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* SNEAKER WAVES...THE SNEAKER WAVE THREAT WILL INCREASE FRIDAY AS
  THE LONG PERIOD SWELL LINGERS THROUGHOUT THE WATERS.

* IMPACTS...LONG LULLS WITH COMPARATIVELY SMALL WAVES ARE LIKELY
  TO DEVELOP BETWEEN SETS OF LARGER WAVES. THESE LULLS MAY LAST
  SEVERAL MINUTES...GIVING BEACHGOERS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
  PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF LARGER WAVES THAT WASH FARTHER ONTO THE
  BEACH THAN EXPECTED. THESE WAVES CAN EASILY WASH BEACHGOERS INTO
  THE FRIGID AND TURBULENT WATERS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BEACHGOERS ARE ADVISED TO OBSERVE THE OCEAN FROM A SAFE
DISTANCE...AND ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAVES WHEN VENTURING
CLOSE TO THE SURF ZONE.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
405 AM PST FRI JAN 27 2017

CAZ101-103-104-109-281215-
COASTAL DEL NORTE-NORTHERN HUMBOLDT COAST-SOUTHWESTERN HUMBOLDT-
MENDOCINO COAST-
405 AM PST FRI JAN 27 2017

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

A DIMINISHING LONG PERIOD WESTERLY SWELL OF 10 FT AT 16 SECONDS WILL
BRING A THREAT FOR SNEAKER WAVES TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

Any day can be potentially high risk for sneaker waves (often most dangerous on sunny days because there are more people on the beach and they are less expected).


High winds will make your trip miserable - and potentially dangerous also.


Point is: Just because it's sunny doesn't mean that it will be a good time to backpack the Lost Coast Trail during the winter. If it's not sunny, you definitely don't want to be out here. There could be calm days between storms but really know all of the conditions before you head out. This winter has been particularly wet and stormy with rough seas.


Read these blog posts for more information about general winter conditions and travel advice.


http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2016/01/winter-travels-safety-first.html


http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2015/11/careful-of-sneaker-waves.html


http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2012/11/winter-conditions-prepare-for-worst.html


http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2011/12/winter-in-king-range-what-to-expect.html


http://lostcoastranger.blogspot.com/2013/09/rescue-on-lost-coast.html


For current conditions call the King Range Project Office: 707-986-5400

NEW King Range Individual Wilderness Permit Requirement

The Bureau of Land Management will require permits for overnight use in the King Range Wilderness, part of the King Range National Conservation Area on northern California’s Lost Coast, beginning Jan. 9, 2017.   The requirement will not affect day-use visitors or campgrounds outside the wilderness area.

The permit system will limit the number of people entering the King Range Wilderness for overnight use to 60 entries per day during the peak season of May 15-Sept. 15, and 30 entries per day during the non-peak season of Sept. 16-May14.

Starting Jan. 9, 2017, King Range visitors can visit www.recreation.gov to book their overnight permits. Permits will cost $6 per group.  Visitors can also purchase permits by visiting the King Range office in Whitethorn. 

The new permitting requirement will help the BLM manage the number of visitors, preserving the wilderness experience of solitude.  Overnight use has increased by more than 150 percent since the King Range Wilderness was designated in 2006, from 3,300 overnight visitors to more than 9,500 in 2015.   Visitor days (number of visitors multiplied by the number of days they stay) have increased from 12,400 to 34,400 in the same time.

“The new permit system will help meet the intent of the Wilderness Act by reducing overcrowding,” said Molly Brown, BLM Arcata field manager. “Current use levels have negatively impacted the wilderness character of the King Range Wilderness, particularly along the Lost Coast Trail.”

The BLM decided to put the permit system in place after receiving extensive public input over more than a decade as part of the King Range National Conservation Area Resource Management Plan and the King Range Wilderness Management Plan. 

Additional information regarding the permit and management plans are available online at (insert address); by  request to the BLM-Arcata Field Office, (707) 825-2300; or request to the King Range Office, PO Drawer 189, Whitethorn, CA  95589,  (707) 986-5400;  or by sending an email request to CA338@BLM.GOV.