The Lost Coast--Rav4 Beach Camping in California Coastal Wilderness 

Thanks for watching Kim! Hey--we have the same last name, that's crazy!

Glad you enjoyed it :)

Thanks for watching!

Yeah I highly recommend the Inn if you're looking for a nice lil getaway on the Lost Coast that doesn't involve roughing it. Thanks for watching all the way to the end! Fred was the best boy, and although his life was short and ended sadly, it was full of adventure and love and he brought me and everyone around him so much joy. I miss him constantly, even with my new pup Doug around the house 🥹

Thanks Vickie :)

Damn dude, just having 60 people on that trail simultaneously must've been quite the sight! My girlfriend and I returned to Usal in the last week (Mon-Weds) of June of '22, just over a year after we did this trip in the video in May of '21, and I hadn't thought about how, even the week BEFORE the fourth of July that people would be there to do some dumb shit. The yahoo factor had increased exponentially since we had been there last. There was one dude just mashing a big 'ole Dodge around chaining logs of driftwood to it and dragging them around the beach and the inlet to the forest just off the beach. When asked he said it was for a "big ass bonfire for the Fourth," which at that point was still 5 days away, so these folks were either living there or just gonna be there for a while. The yahoo factor had increased SO greatly, in fact, that some dingus lit off fireworks on the beach on the Wednesday night and started a brushfire while we were there, forcing the arrival of several gigantic off-road fire trucks and some very grumpy firemen and rangers. We were both pretty shook by it, and haven't been back since, which is a shame cause it's so beautiful there. Reaaaaallly glad we didn't run into a dogfighting ring, jesus christ....

Thanks for watching!

Thank you 🙏🏻

Thanks 🤗

Thank you for watching and for your kind words of condolence. He was a good boy.

Thanks for watching Phil!

You are so kind, thanks!

Thanks for watching Jerry!

Gracias por ver mi video Daniel, y hola desde California 👋🏻! Que esta pasando en Mendoza?

Thanks for watching!

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!

Thanks Noy, much obliged!

no, thank you!

Yeah i've heard that it's not a trek for the faint of heart or weak of ankle! Thanks for watching and subscribing!

Yeah everything I’ve read about Usal suggests that the road is so bad during the winter months that the local sheriffs department will just close the gate, making it inaccessible to prevent knuckleheads from getting stuck on it. When it’s not raining the road is rather passable for most vehicles, though higher clearance than a regular sedan is usually helpful, and there are parts of the road closer to the beach that are extremely rutted which would test break over and departure angles on any vehicle. Subsequent to the filming of this video, I was last there last year around late June, I think, and another group was shooting off fireworks and started a brush fire-scary stuff when you’re on a remote beach accessible by one lane dirt road with limited cell service/coverage. The place is kind of hit or miss in terms of its quiet solitude, I guess is what I’m getting at.

Thanks for watching!

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

Thanks for watching John!

Thanks for watching!

The town of.....Shelter Cove? Which town we talking about?

Good

My Rav4 is AWD. I wouldn't recommend pulling a trailer on that road just based on the fact that there are parts where if you encountered another car you'd have to back up quite a ways to find space to pass each other. I've never driven with a trailer, but it seems like that would be a pain in the ass.

They're all over the place!

Thanks for watching Franz! That's a wild story about the cops wife and her dog. Glad it seems like it worked out. 1) It's not something you can legally get a ticket for in California, or nearly any other state in the U.S, as driving with a dog on your lap is only currently illegal in Hawaii and New Jersey. What I imagine an officer might give you a ticket for is the technicality that it could be considered 'distracted driving'--a catchall phrase for a whole host of behaviors that the police can deem a reason for, or addition to, a traffic stop/ticket. It's mostly just not safe for both parties and it's a rare treat for the dog to be in my lap. Usually in the car he's in a crate or in his own seat with a harness attached to a seatbelt. I don't like him distracting me while and I drive, and I don't need him getting ejected from the vehicle if we get into an accident, but I appreciate the concern. 2) I always check local fire restrictions and carry an up-to-date California campfire permit, which allows the holder to operate a stove/build a fire on BLM land and in State Parks. I follow the permit regulations by making sure the area around my campfire is clear of flammable debris, and I also have a shovel, fire extinguisher, and a bucket of water handy whenever I have a campfire. At the time of filming (May '21), according to the BLM King Range and CA State Parks Sinkeyone Wilderness websites there were no such fire restrictions. Usal Beach established campsites have fire rings, and I really wasn't too worried about the sand catching fire, but again, I appreciate your concern for safety and the comment!

Yeah, I'll bet it gets wild out there for a holiday weekend!

Hey thanks Vin! If your Adventure Bike has knobby/dirt tires then I can't see any reason why you wouldn't make it to the beach, although I've heard that the road may be impassable when wet. Thanks for watching!

One a motorcycle, you are invisable and they (other drivers) are all blind

Hey Raul, On the approach to Usal Beach, after you cross the bridge you take a left to head towards the water. You can keep going straight and there are some inland campsites on either side of the road which continues back up into the mountains northwest toward Shelter Cove, but only when the gate is unlocked by the local sheriff's department, usually during the summer months.

There is no exit, it is simply a road off Highway 1 called Usal Road. It's on the left if you're heading north about 10 minutes past the town of Rockport. What kind of van do you have? The road can be impassable when wet, and it's wet up in that part of the state A LOT. Also check local road closures before you go out of your way to try to get there because the local sheriff's department closes the road periodically due to weather or other reasons. I hope that if you're planning on driving roads like this that you have a good set of all-terrain tires, and not the stock highway ones that came with the van. There are a couple places on Usal Road where a low-clearance vehicle would scrape its belly, and I definitely WOULD NOT RECOMMEND pulling a cargo trailer. A lot of it is a tight, winding, one lane dirt road where you might have to back up quite a ways if you encounter another vehicle going the opposite direction. Also, if the trailer started to slide for any reason, there isn't a lot of space to allow a sliding vehicle much grace on that road. I'm not saying it's a super dangerous road, but I definitely wouldn't tow a regular cargo trailer on it.

I'm glad I ask! I'm pulling a 6x12 cargo trailer with a Plymouth Grand Caravan and it does not have any ground clearance. I will have to skip that beach this time. I do the Hwy 1 trip every other year, starting off around Ventura CA. And ending up in Orcus Island Washington for the summer. I am always looking for hidden getaways like the one you have shown us. Maybe in 2024! Thank you for the great video and your quick response. Much appreciated.

I live here, if they don't grate the road it's impassable without 4x4. They usually grate it around this time of year after winter.

I think if the road was mostly dry and you had some good all-terrains you'd be alright--I've definitely seen 2wd passenger cars down at the campground. I wouldn't recommend driving on the beach with 2wd without another buddy vehicle to help you out of a jam just in case, though.

When I was there last in June of ‘21 the gate beyond the beach was unlocked. I’m pretty sure it’s a call made by the local sheriffs department, and is usually open June-September depending on their discretion. I’ve also found this website helpful: www.mendocinocounty.org/government/transportation/road-closures when planning a trip around those parts.

You know, I go back and forth on it, honestly. It perfectly fits two Roam 105l boxes side by side in which I store most of my gear, leaving the inside free for the fridge, bedding, tent, the dog and other personal items. I also like that with long enough crossbars I can keep my bike racks on the roof on either side of it, and being tall I don't mind having bikes up there--I like to think maybe if they're up there people are less inclined to try to steal them than if they were hanging off a hitch on the back. It has a shovel mount on one side, and with the two boxes on there my maxtrax fit perfectly just behind them, so I feel like I've dialed it in to suit my particular needs. It's also really easy to take on and off the roof, so if you're the sort of person who's worried about fuel economy when you're not using the thing it's easy to remove. I sometimes think about going with the Prinsu rack, but it seems to have a couple drawbacks although they look rad. If I want to continue keeping bikes on the roof, I lose available real estate for other gear. There also seems to be a fair amount of drilling and/or removal of existing bits of the roof, which is beyond the amount of effort I'm personally willing to put into an installation. I will say that I'm leasing the Rav, so having things that are functional but also ultimately removable are handy for me as I'm not totally convinced that I'm going to keep the Rav TRD after it's 3 years--might end up graduating to what might be the new generation of 4Runner in 2023. That way I don't have to add a lift and armor and new tires and install a hitch etc....On the other hand I've had this car since it had 5 miles on it and I'm rather attached to it, so we'll see what happens in a couple years. TLDR--I like the rack. It works fine for how I use it. Sometimes I wish I had a Prinsu, but mainly for the looks, and the clearance in parking garages.

@@brendansoutdoors377 Thanks for the reply! I’ve been looking into a Yakima or Rola (from Amazon). Which version of the Yakima do you have? Trying to do more outdoor stuff with my family and need more space in trunk. The prinsu looks great and seems slimlined , but for the price and what my family would be using it for doesn’t fit the budget.

@@o0oitzJimmy It’s called the OffGrid in a size Medium

I had been looking for rain guards that were “in-channel” for a while, but everything I could find was just the kind that you stick to the outside of the car until I found these on eBay. I don’t think they have a brand name, I just googled “in-channel rain guards for 2019 RAV4” and those popped up.

Also: superautousa.com/products/fits-rav4-2019-21-in-channel-window-visor-vent-shade-rain-sun-guards-deflectors?variant=41676099846318&currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAjw0a-SBhBkEiwApljU0pK8Qr9mJC0ImIjXoVdQjZLJkpND4aD7ALIcNPfL9JJYMEzEzfVn9xoCPz4QAvD_BwE

@@brendansoutdoors377 Okay thanks I like the in channel rain guards over stick on also way better look. I am surprised weather tech has not offered these yet.

Right!? Neither Weathertech or AVS makes an in-channel for the Rav4, and Weathertech doesn’t make a rain visor for the car at all, which is odd given how popular they are.

I have not. Even when I roll windows down/open moonroof there’s only a normal amount of dust. Maybe you have a gap in one of the gaskets sealing your rear doors?

It was called the Inn of the Lost Coast. A little on the pricey side for the ocean facing room with a hot tub and sauna, but after several days sleeping on the ground it was well worth it!

Thank for watching!

WHERE!?!?

I don't know that I'd call central California "the Pacific Northwest," but um....yeah, go to New England! Thanks for watching!

Ah, a man of culture I see...