My friend told me to skip the official trailhead for the Lost Coast and it saved my trip

My buddy, who hiked the Lost Coast in California two years back, told me to skip the main Black Sands Beach start and instead begin at the Mattole River trailhead. He said the permit situation was easier and the first day's walk was way nicer. I was nervous about changing the plan, but I listened. Starting at Mattole meant we got the tough beach sand section done early when our packs were light, and we scored a walk-in permit at the ranger station with zero hassle. The official advice online pushes the other direction, but his tip about the flow of the hike was spot on. We had smooth sailing while other groups we met later were already beat from a rough first day. Has anyone else gotten game-changing route advice from a friend that went against the common guidebook wisdom?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron7241mo ago

Beat from a rough first day" is why I trust friends over guidebooks.

noahcampbell1mo ago

Right? My buddy saved me from a terrible hostel last year that had five star reviews online.