Discover the best luxury beach campgrounds near Shelter Cove, California

United States
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California
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Shelter Cove

97% (75 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Shelter Cove

Dog-friendly getaways

4 top beach campgrounds near Shelter Cove

99%

(65)

Lost Coast Basecamp

5 sites · Lodging5 acres · Shelter Cove, CA

Blu Graham was born and raised on the Lost Coast. He is the owner and operator of Lost Coast Adventure Tours, a local guiding outfitter and shuttle service for the Lost Coast. He knows all the epic spots and history about the surrounding area. Nestled in the heart of the wilderness, Lost Coast Base Camp is more than just a place to prep, refuel or rest after a trip; it's a vibrant hub of adventure, camaraderie, and unforgettable experiences. Designed with the spirited explorer in mind, this unique retreat serves as the ultimate base for your wilderness adventures, offering a communal atmosphere that is both welcoming and energizing. At Lost Coast Base Camp, we believe that true adventure is found not only in the wild landscapes that surround us but also in the stories and friendships forged around a crackling campfire. This is a place where connections are made effortlessly, and shared experiences create bonds that last a lifetime. Our communal living spaces, open dining areas, and group-led expeditions are all crafted to encourage interaction, collaboration, and the sharing of tales from the trail. If solitude is what you seek, Lost Coast Base Camp may challenge your expectations. Here, the emphasis is on community and connection. Our ethos is built on the belief that together, we can experience more deeply, learn more profoundly, and celebrate the spirit of adventure more vibrantly. Whether you're sharing a meal with fellow adventurers, teaming up for an impromptu hike, or exchanging stories under the stars, you'll find that our base camp is a place where privacy gives way to shared joy and individual journeys merge into collective escapades. Forget about the tedious task of unpacking and pitching your tent. Our bell tent camps are pre-set, standing ready as your private retreat amidst the great outdoors. The inclusion of cots means that you’re elevated from the ground, ensuring a comfortable rest that rejuvenates you for the adventures that lie ahead. Enjoy big skies overlooking a vast mountain range. Our boat camp and bus camp will also be available soon! We are located just a few miles from Shelter Cove and both the Northern and Southern Lost Coast Trail segments. Making it a perfect place for hikers, dual sport enthusiasts and anyone wanting to get away from the everyday hustle bustle. At Lost Coast Base Camp, every detail is designed to enhance your wilderness experience, including access to shared amenities that cater to both comfort and convenience. Enjoy ourseasonal fire pit or cook up a feast at the BBQ pit. Our enclosed bathrooms and hot showers provide a touch of home, while the communal full kitchen is perfect for preparing meals and sharing stories of the day's adventures. Plus, with a dedicated camp host on hand to provide you with wood, sleeping pads, or answer any questions you may have about the area, you're assured a hassle-free and enriching stay.

92%

(6)

Lost Coast Tower

1 site · Lodging2 acres · Petrolia, CA

The Tower is hidden away on top of a hill in the Mattole Valley, a steep 500-foot switchback hike through Douglas firs on a trail built especially to reach it. It is set within its own hilltop meadow. The property is about 2 acres all in all, with the main house just down below at the bottom of the trail where I live. More about the trail up (as the Tower is not just about destination, it's about how you get there and turning everything into an adventure): A series of large ceramic sculptures punctuate the trail up. My father, whose idea the tower was, commissioned Jim Danisch, a great potter who lived in the Mattole, to build a series of sculptures for the Millennium. That New Year, hundreds of people from around the area came to the Tower and climbed up the hill to celebrate with a fireworks display people still talk about. Greg Smith, one of the craftsmen who built the tower, tells the story of how his 95 year old ailing mother walked proudly to the top and died a week later after achieving her final ascent. A special booklet compiled by Dansich is in the Tower for perusal, so you can read about what each sculpture represents (they are symbolic of life in the valley thousands of years ago) and how you might contemplate their significance in your life. The property was designed in collaboration with local craftspeople by my late father, a radical journalist who wandered into the valley in 1990 and stayed. When he bought the house, the land it came with included a big hill behind the house. How he got up there in the first place to have the idea for the Tower, I don't know, but he did, and the result is a totally unique embodiment of a vision. My father thought that in general people were a bit timid and conservative about expressing themselves through their properties, and that a place could be an expression of your personality. He was a 'Why Not?' type of guy - why shouldn't the place you live in express your loves and interests, as far as possible? For example, his identity as a writer and as a writer from a family of writers is announced by his father's Remington typewriter atop a totem pole near the entrance to the Tower trail - you might miss it, but it's there, happily rusting for eternity. Reliefs on the Cider house, a square terracotta structure with a gold-leafed domed roof, depict his life there. He championed originality, and you can feel his indelible spirit in every detail of the Tower and surrounding property. Learn more about this land:Enjoy total seclusion and privacy in this unusual Lost Coast hideaway. Accessible only by a STEEP 500-ft trail, you must be fairly fit to appreciate this remote spot. The climb will take you to a two-storey 'tower' built around two water tanks. The Mattole River is just over the road below. Enjoy the spectacular bird life. The remote Mattole Beach is just six miles away and makes for great hiking and beachcombing. **Important Check-in info** The Tower is a property that preferably needs a guide to show you up there initially. It is hidden, and you’ll benefit from a quick orientation up there. Check-in before dark, please, due to the trail.The upper storey of the Tower has a small double Murphy bed which measures 4 ft wide. It is 6.5 ft long from headboard to footboard, and has a foam mattress on a wooden board. If you are quite tall it may not be comfortable due to the footboard. This room also has a long sofa, Deco chairs, redwood window seats and a long cherrywood table. The Tower is on two floors, connected by an outside staircase. So *PLEASE NOTE* that as the bathroom is on the lower floor you will need to go down the *outside* stairs to the bathroom. Downstairs is the bathroom, shower and kitchen in one open plan room. The kitchen area includes a Wedgewood stove. There is also a sink upstairs for easy teeth brushing etc. The spring water is excellent for drinking. The lower storey also houses water tanks, wrapped in canvas painted by a local artist.Relax beneath the stars in the outdoor in-ground copper bath tub, with plenty of space for two and a small surrounding deck for glasses of wine, or take a shower outside, looking out onto the hills. Enjoy ceramicist Jim Danisch's sculptures punctuating the trail. In collaboration with Petrolia's craftspeople, the Tower was designed by my father, a writer and lover of art. For groceries, the local Petrolia store has most basics (including a gas pump) but its provisions are limited so please bring your own special groceries if you want more than basic. Please note there are ZERO bars and restaurants in Petrolia. Bear in mind that the Petrolia Store closes at 5.30pm, so be sure to bring groceries with you if you're arriving later than that, especially for that first night's dinner! At the bottom of the hill is the main house, where I will be on hand to help out as best I can with any queries and extra conveniences. Details and directions upon booking. To enable a real break and total relaxation, there is no WiFi! There is very limited cell service in Petrolia. There is a landline available for your private use in the Tower. Petrolia is off the beaten track and lies at the end of a very winding, rugged road with potholes a-plenty. Ordinary cars can make it, but if you are hiring a car you will be better off hiring an all wheel car that is not too low off the ground. Be prepared for a real rural retreat. The tower is right in the wilderness atop a hill, so be prepared to hear and see animals around.Please note that I have been hosting on another platform for 7 years with many happy guests. Please google The Lost Coast Tower to see those reviews, to get a sense of the place from a guest's perspective . Thank you!

Historic Farm Humboldt Bay

2 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Loleta, CA

Come share the beauty of this historic farming and ranching heritage. Camping spot surrounded by mature cedars on 2 acres overlooking Humboldt Bay. You have full access to hot showers, bathroom, and kitchen in the main house There is plenty of sights and scenery including biking & kayak trails, estuary birdwatching, and close to the south jetty beaches.. this is a special place. Southport is located between Ferndale and Eureka, in a small farming community called Loleta. This is a hobby farm with chickens, goats, horse, dog, and cats.

Mendo Coast Barn

1 site · RV4 acres · Cleone, CA

Site 1 is a Century Old barn partially converted into a large "modern" living area(fully furnished/all amenities, including outdoor clawfoot tub&shower). Situated alongside a willow&alder covered fish bearing stream, minutes from premier California Beaches. Large mowed yard, orchard and vegetable garden encourages guests outdoors. This property is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who come to the Mendocino Coast to hike, surf, kayak, bike, retreat & appreciate the natural beauty of the Pacific Coast & Redwood Empire. The barn is a separate locking unit with complete privacy; there are other residences on the 4 acre property. Dogs welcome at owners full responsibility. 15 minutes from Fort Bragg, 1/2 hour from Mendocino Village.

Luxury beach camping near Shelter Cove guide

Overview

Situated in Humboldt County on the Pacific Ocean along California’s Lost Coast, Shelter Cove is bursting with remote natural beauty that draws campers to its world-class hiking, mountain biking, and iconic landmarks like Cape Mendocino Lighthouse. Besides the unspoiled coastline, many people know Shelter Cove as the endpoint of the iconic Lost Coast Trail. Backpackers and wilderness campers can find campgrounds within nearby parks like King Range National Conservation Area, Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, and Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The campsites are equipped with bare-bone amenities but stunning views right from the tent. Outside the park limits, there are more campgrounds that offer fancier accommodations as well as cabin rentals with wifi and RV campsites with full hookups.

Where to go

King Range National Conservation Area

Shelter Cove is nestled in King Range National Conservation Area, which covers 68,000 acres. Check out Black Sands Beach, and head to Deadman’s Beach for surfing in spring and fall. Or hike to King Peak, then go biking on the Paradise Royale Mountain Bike Trail System. For campers hiking the Lost Coast Trail, there are many wilderness campsites in King Range that sit along it and the coast—snag a backcountry permit for any overnight wilderness camping. RVers can also find campgrounds with parking at trailheads that have fire rings and vault toilets.

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

Canyons, gray whales, dark sand beaches, tidal pools, sea stacks, and rolling hills—campers will find authentic untamed wilderness in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. The park stretches along the coast and is home to the lesser-known southern section of the Lost Coast Trail. Backpacking and equestrian camping are the only options in this state park—some campsites have fire rings but most have no amenities and the terrain is too rugged for vehicles. Just outside the park, RVers can set up at pull-through campsites with full hookups and dump stations, as well as restrooms and shower facilities. There are also cabin rentals equipped with kitchenettes, full bathrooms, cable TV, and wifi.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Boasting over 100 miles of trails for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders that range from easy to expert-level, Humboldt Redwoods State Park is alluring to any kind of camper. It’s situated an hour northeast from Shelter Cove and contains the South Fork Eel River—an excellent spot for fishing, boating, and swimming, as well as the renowned Avenue of the Giants. The area offers over 250 campsites to choose from—most feature picnic tables and fire rings as well as access to flush toilets and pay showers. Some campgrounds have corrals for equestrian campers and a few welcome RVs, but there are no hookups or dump stations within the park (the stunning redwood trees certainly make up for it, though).

When to go

The temperate climate of Shelter Cove means campers can enjoy its natural treasures year-round. The shoulder seasons bring cooler temperatures, less-crowded campgrounds, and unique wildlife sightings—migrating gray whales make an appearance in winter and early spring, followed by colorful wildflowers that last into summer. Rain is common from November through March which causes a lot of road and campground closures (especially in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park), so check ahead to ensure access.