California Coastal Trail: Last Chance to Skunk Cabbage

This is a one-way, multi-day route on the California Coastal Trail, from the marked Last Chance north trailhead to Highway 101 milepost 122.69 at Skunk Cabbage. The 47.4-mile mapped line joins Last Chance, DeMartin, Klamath, the Klamath River highway detour, Flint Ridge, the Tey-wo-lew connector, Gold Bluffs Beach and Skunk Cabbage, crossing Redwood National Park and neighboring state park lands. The separate Crescent Beach walk is excluded. The park describes a 70-mile coastal trail, but its listed section figures do not reconcile; 47.4 miles is measured along this specific route, not a settled official mileage. Allow about 24 hours of walking and several days for a full backpack.

The route line includes a detour over the Highway 101 bridge at the Klamath River. The detour puts hikers on the Highway 101 shoulder and the narrow bridge, where traffic is fast and there is no shoulder or separated pedestrian walkway. Do not assume the bridge is safe to walk across based on this map. Confirm current pedestrian access with the park or Caltrans, or hike the named sections separately. Last Chance is frequently affected by landslides; check current access before traveling.

Start at the marked north Coastal Trail trailhead at the end of Enderts Beach Road south of Crescent City; the mapped south endpoint is Highway 101 milepost 122.69. This is not a loop, so arrange a vehicle shuttle or hike separate sections from their own access points. Backcountry camping requires a permit; reserve and confirm a camp plan before relying on an overnight itinerary. Check tide tables before visiting Enderts Beach, Hidden Beach or Gold Bluffs. No continuous food or water resupply is identified along the full route; plan supplies before starting.

Last Chance starts with steep switchbacks, then levels onto the old coast road. Ocean views open early; alder, spruce and old-growth redwood follow. A side route reaches Enderts Beach tidepools, best visited at low tide. DeMartin climbs and descends through old-growth Sitka spruce, western hemlock, Douglas-fir and redwoods. Backcountry sites with toilets sit along the climb, followed by prairie openings and wide ocean views. Berry patches are bear habitat.

The Klamath section runs from Wilson Creek Picnic Area toward Klamath River Overlook through mixed spruce and alder with Pacific views. Hidden Beach and its tidepools are a spur about two miles south of Wilson Creek; return to the main trail before climbing to the overlook. Offshore stacks host murres, cormorants and pigeon guillemots. The river and coast are part of the Yurok people's ancestral landscape; respect community lands and cultural places.

Beyond the river detour, Flint Ridge climbs from Marshall Pond through old-growth redwoods to coastal openings; the pond dates from the logging era, and the climb is steep. Tey-wo-lew connects Flint Ridge with Gold Bluffs Beach. There the trail drops steeply to Carruthers Cove, then follows easier beach walking. Fern Canyon is a separate quarter-mile walk; seasonal footbridges are available only in summer. The road continues to Gold Bluffs Beach Campground.

The final named section runs from Davison Road to Highway 101 milepost 122.69. From beach and wind-shaped shrubs it climbs beside Skunk Cabbage Creek, crosses flowered prairie and reaches an overlook, then descends into a fern-filled drainage with big-leaf maple and pungent skunk cabbage. The trail passes massive redwoods and old spruce stumps before ending in dense young forest. Sitka spruce from this coast was used to build World War II aircraft.

Elk graze the coastal prairies, bears forage where berries grow, and seabirds crowd offshore stacks. Observe wildlife from a distance, especially elk. Pets are not allowed on park trails; service animals are permitted.