Arcata Field Office

Lost Coast Headlands

Draft Lost Coast Headands Activity Plan Now Available

The Lost Coast Headlands are located along the coastal bluffs south of the mouth of the Eel River, approximately 280 miles north of San Francisco, 25 miles south of Eureka, and 6 miles west of Ferndale. The 463 acres of public land provide seasonal beach access and include grasslands with scattered patches of forest and portions of the Fleener Creek and Guthrie Creek watersheds.

The northern point of California’s Lost Coast is a place of rolling mountains and windswept coastal bluffs crumbling onto narrow beaches. The area is hard to beat if you are looking for quiet recreational pursuits. Lost Coast Headlands offers opportunities for hiking, bird watching, wildflower viewing, and beachcombing.

Photo of Guthrie Creek Trailhead with ocean in background.Flenner Creek below the trail with Pacific Ocean.Fleener Creek trailhead parking area.

Check the tides and ocean conditions before your head down to the beach.

Directions to Fleener Creek Trailhead

Exit Highway 101 at the Ferndale exit. Travel west towards Ferndale for five miles. From Main Street, turn right onto Ocean Avenue. Continue on Ocean Avenue for seven miles to the trailhead. The road will alternate between dirt and pavement. The parking lot and kiosk will be on your right. From the parking lot to the beach below is 1/2 mile.

Directions to Guthrie Creek Trailhead

Continue from the Fleener Creek Trailhead south approximately 2 miles and look for the trailhead on your right. From the parking lot to the beach below is 1 mile.

Lynda J. Roush, Field Manager
Bureau of Land Management
Arcata Field Office
1695 Heindon Road
Arcata, CA 95521-4573
Phone: (707) 825-2300
Fax: (707) 825-2301
Office Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F
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