Featured Destination Story

Last Chance Section of Coastal Trail

Klamath, CA

The Last Chance Section of the California Coastal Trail in Del Norte County offers cyclists a rare chance to pedal directly through the bones of transportation history. Originally constructed in the 1920s as the primary alignment of the Old Coast Highway, this rugged corridor was eventually abandoned by vehicles due to relentless landslides and the shifting topography of the coastline. Today, it has been repurposed into a dramatic, multi-use trail segment managed by Redwood National and State Parks. Hugging the cliffs south of Crescent City, the route acts as a living time capsule where old wooden mileposts still stand guard, and historical engineering marvels slowly blend back into the coastal wilderness.

For cyclists, conquering this trail requires a realistic look at the numbers and the terrain. Spanning roughly six miles one way between its trailheads at Enderts Beach Road and Highway 101, the route is a demanding physical test. Cyclists face relentless switchbacks and steep, unpaved grades that climb hundreds of feet above the surf, making a gravel bike with wide tires or a mountain bike non-negotiable. The challenges are seasonal and dynamic; by mid-summer, wild blackberry brambles and a dense understory can narrow the old roadbed down to a tight singletrack, demanding solid bike handling skills and a high level of physical fitness to navigate the loose rock, dirt, and occasional fallen debris.