Stage 2 of the Lost Coast Trail covers 13.0 km from Randall Creek to Big Flat, with 127 m of ascent and 128 m of descent. The highest point is 38 m. Allow about 5 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Grassy marine terrace around Spanish Creek, about 2 km past Randall Creek, with several sheltered sites. BLM warns of heavy grass with ticks and rattlesnakes; free with the wilderness permit.
Wilderness camp at Kinsey Creek, about 6 km past Randall Creek, where the Kinsey Ridge Trail comes down to the beach. Free with the wilderness permit; treat the creek water.
Wilderness camp with some tree cover at Big Creek, about 8.5 km past Randall Creek and 0.4 km inland from the beach route. Free with the wilderness permit; treat the creek water.
The largest and most popular camp on the trail: a wide coastal flat at Big Flat Creek, 26 km (16.3 mi) from Mattole and the end of day 2 in the BLM plan, with many sites behind the dunes and reliable creek water (treat it). Busy on weekends; Zone 3 starts just south at Miller Flat. Private cabins nearby are not open to the public.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or in guides but could not be checked on an official page. Beach camps are informal sites, not facilities. On the trail you sleep in your own tent at creek-mouth beach camps; they are free but you need a King Range wilderness permit from recreation.gov for your start date, and a bear canister. Time your day so you camp outside the tide-blocked zones.
Emergency: call 911. Carry a satellite SOS device. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.