The King Range National Conservation Area is unlike any other place in the continental United States. Here, in this 35-mile long, 68,000-acre stretch of coastal wilderness, the mountains rise directly out of the sea. King Peak tops out at 4,088 ft., and is only 3 miles from the ocean. The Conservation Area extends from the Mattole River in Humboldt County to the northern border of the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park in Mendocino County. There are campgrounds scattered throughout the area.
Because of its remoteness and relative inaccessibility — only a few back roads lead into the range — this Douglas-fir-clad wilderness attracts hikers, campers, equestrians, mushroom collectors, surfers, anglers and beachcombers.
Seals, sea lions and a multitude of sea birds inhabit the rocky shoreline, and California gray whales pass close to shore during the spring northern migration. Streams that flow down from the mountains are spawning waters for salmon and trout. A small herd of Roosevelt elk roams the area, and some 300 species of migratory birds have been observed in the King Range, including the northern spotted owl, bald eagle and Cooper's hawk. Rattlesnakes live here, and black bear and mountain lions also prowl these mountains and the shoreline. Campers are required to carry and use approved hard-sided bear canisters to store all food and scented items, or face being fined. Overnight stays require a walk-in permit.
Accessing the King Range can be an adventure in itself. Hikers can take the legendary and potentially deadly Lost Coast Trail north out of the village of Shelter Cove. Unpaved back roads, most suitable for 4-wheel drive vehicles with high ground clearance, intersect Shelter Cove Road on the south, and Wilder Ridge Road on the east. On the north end of the range, access is near the mouth of the Mattole River on Lighthouse Road, off Mattole Road.
