BLM seeks volunteer campground host for California's remote Lost Coast

ARCATA, Calif. - The Bureau of Land Management's King Range National Conservation Area is seeking a volunteer campground host for the 2026 recreation season at Mattole Campground, the northern gateway to the renowned Lost Coast Trail in Humboldt County.

Situated where the Mattole River meets the Pacific Ocean, Mattole Campground welcomes thousands of hikers, backpackers, and day visitors each year. The campground host is often the first friendly face visitors encounter before setting off on the 25-mile Lost Coast Trail - one of California's most spectacular and remote coastal routes.

The volunteer position runs May 15 through October 15 with a commitment of approximately 20 to 30 hours per week. Duties include greeting visitors, providing trail and tide safety information, helping campers find sites, promoting Leave No Trace principles, and assisting with light campground upkeep such as litter pickup, restroom cleaning and restocking, and reporting maintenance needs to BLM staff.

The ideal candidate enjoys working with the public, operating independently in a remote environment, and caring for public lands. Volunteers must provide their own self-contained RV or trailer, as Mattole Campground has no on-site potable water, dump station, cell service, or Wi-Fi.

In exchange for their service, hosts receive a complimentary campsite and the rare opportunity to spend a summer living on California's rugged Lost Coast - surrounded by sweeping ocean views, abundant wildlife, and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the American West.