Figured out how to shave 3 miles off the Lost Coast Trail by taking a low tide shortcut through the rocky shelf near Punta Gorda.

Was dragging through deep sand for hours last summer until a ranger mentioned the exposed rocks at low tide create a solid path around the headland, now I check tide charts before every coastal trip has anyone else found hidden shortcuts like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

ivan21117d ago

That's a great find with the Punta Gorda shortcut (I always love when a ranger drops knowledge like that). Did something similar on the Olympic coast last year near the Third Beach trailhead. There's this huge stretch of wet sand exposed at minus tides that cuts off a mile of climbing up and down the forest trail. Saved my knees from the constant elevation changes, and the tide pools along the way are full of purple sea stars and little crabs (which my kid was obsessed with). I actually started keeping a laminated tide chart in my pack after that trip, clipped right to the outside so I can check it without digging around. Makes the whole trip more fun when you can plan around the ocean's schedule instead of just guessing.

rowan66617d ago

@ivan211 you're spot on about the tide pools, I spent like 45 minutes just staring at the sea stars around Punta Gorda last time. The laminated tide chart idea is genius honestly, I've been using a dry bag with my phone but it fogs up and I end up guessing. I started going even further and making a little checklist with low tide windows for the whole trip, helps me plan out which sections to hit at what time. There's a spot on the northern Lost Coast called Cooskie Creek where missing a low tide means walking an extra 2 miles around cliffs, learned that one the hard way.