Coastal Trail: Last Chance Section

Last Chance is a strenuous, roughly 6¾-mile point-to-point section of the California Coastal Trail, from Enderts Beach Road to the Highway 101 access near Damnation Creek. You get ocean views first and a redwood-forest finish. Plan about four to five hours one way. The park lists six miles; the more detailed route to the highway access measures about 6¾, so use the longer figure for planning.

The trail follows an old highway grade above the coast at first, with ocean views and a short spur to Enderts Beach in the first half-mile. The beach is an optional side trip; check the tide before going down to the pools. After Nickel Creek, the route climbs steeply through long switchbacks, gaining about 900 feet in 1¼ miles. Alder and blackberry can crowd the tread in summer and partly screen the water.

After the climb, the route eases along a ridge before dropping into old-growth forest. The canopy gets darker and cooler, and the tread becomes easier to follow. Near the southern end, a footbridge crosses Damnation Creek beside some of the biggest trees on the route. The trail also follows pieces of the old Coast Highway, which served as Highway 101 from 1920 to 1934; bits of pavement and the white center stripe remain. A redwood described as about 14 feet across stands near the last stretch.

Start at the small lot at the end of Enderts Beach Road, about three miles south of Crescent City. The mapped route ends at Highway 101 mile marker 15.6, so arrange a pickup there or turn around and retrace the trail. Walking back makes this about a 13½-mile day. This is a worthwhile choice if you want both coast and old-growth forest in one hard hike; choose the short Enderts Beach walk if you only want a brief coastal outing. Dogs aren't allowed on park trails.

This section has strenuous grades and sustained switchbacks. Landslides have repeatedly affected the route, so check the park's current trail status before setting out. The route is also open to bicycles, but the beach spur is not.