I thought the 'no campfires' rule on the Lost Coast Trail was overkill, but I was wrong

Julia Hall · 2026-04-18T10:30:09.322219+00:00

I did the 25 mile Lost Coast Trail in California last month and honestly rolled my eyes at the strict no campfire rule. I love a fire at the end of a long day and thought it was just some silly park service rule. But on the second night, the wind picked up so much it was hard to even stand up straight. A ranger had told us, 'The wind here can turn a spark into a disaster in seconds,' and seeing those gusts firsthand, I finally got it. The whole area is just dry grass and brush right up to the beach. One ember could have started a huge fire with no way to stop it. It totally changed my view on following those rules, even when they seem strict. Has anyone else had a trail rule they didn't agree with until you saw the reason for yourself?

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I thought the 'no campfires' rule on the Lost Coast Trail was overkill, but I was wrong | Backpacking Routes - nhfree.com