The Lost Coast
Grit Together Lost Coast is a three-day guided overland trip along California’s Lost Coast for Grit Overland van owners, September 18-20, 2026. The route runs from north of Fort Bragg to Ferndale, with a night camped at Shelter Cove. Jointly organized by Grit Overland and Backland Adventures. Registration is $950 through Backland.
Last updated: April 2026
What’s a Grit Together?
Grit Together is our owner event series. We bring Grit owners into one place, head out for a guided trip together, and give you the time and space to learn what your van can really do – with expert guides, a full support crew, and other Grit families who’ve been exactly where you are.
For Lost Coast, we’re partnering with the team at Backland Adventures. They’ll guide the route. We’ll be on the trip with you.
Beginner-Friendly
You do not need prior off-road experience. The route is built to be approachable – enough to stretch your skills, not enough to get in over your head.
Guided Start to Finish
A scout up front, a leader, a sweep at the back. If something comes up, you’re covered. You focus on driving, not wondering.
Other Grit Owners
Ask the questions you’ve been saving. Trade route notes over the campfire. Find the Grit family in person, not just on Facebook.
Real Trail Time
Off-camber sections, soft sand, elevation changes, coastal dirt. The kind of driving that teaches you what your van actually does when it matters.
Space is limited. Backland keeps these trips small enough that the guide team can actually watch out for everyone – and the Lost Coast camp sites are on the smaller side.
Meet Your Guides
Backland Adventures
“Many of the best stories start where the pavement ends.”
That’s how Backland describes what they do – vehicle-based expeditions that blend off-road exploration with backcountry camping. They run trips for people who live for the road less traveled and appreciate a well-earned campfire sunset. Their events are beginner-friendly by design, with years of experience teaching best practices and safe off-road driving.
Craig – who led our Grit Together at Anza-Borrego earlier this year – is your lead guide for Lost Coast. If you were on the Anza-Borrego trip, you already know the style: plain-English driver meetings, a support crew scouting front and sweeping back, and coaching through the technical sections instead of just barking instructions.
Registration, payment, and waivers all go through Backland. Grit Overland team members will be on the trip as well.
Sign up on backlandadventures.comThe Three-Day Route
Sweeping ocean views. Towering coastal redwoods. Scenic pavement blended with approachable dirt. Two nights camped under the stars – one on the beach, one in Shelter Cove.
Fort Bragg to the Beach
Meet up north of Fort Bragg. Driver meeting, recovery and trail driving instruction, then roll out on a mix of pavement and dirt. End the day setting up a beachside camp – waves, a fire, and the first night out with the group.
Rugged Terrain + Coastal Viewpoints
A full day of driving through the rugged country the Lost Coast is named for. Coastal viewpoints, elevation changes, technical sections with the guide team coaching through them. Arrive at Shelter Cove for night two.
Shelter Cove to Ferndale
Slower pace. Coastal route toward Ferndale. Wrap-up by early afternoon so you have a full evening to head home or extend the trip on your own.
What You’ll Come Home With
- ✓ Confidence in your van’s capability – what it does in sand, off-camber, on inclines, on soft shoulders. Most owners are shocked by how much these vans can actually do.
- ✓ Recovery basics you’ll actually use – the Rule of Three, when to “landscape” instead of breaking out all the gear, how to read a situation before it becomes a stuck.
- ✓ Trail etiquette that keeps access open – staying on the line, respecting ruts, why one careless group can get a whole area regulated.
- ✓ A real sense of the Grit family – faces, stories, and route notes from owners who’ve been driving these vans longer than you have.
- ✓ A trip worth telling people about – the Lost Coast is the stretch of California coastline too wild for Highway 1 to cross. You’ll see why.
See a Grit Together
Our last Grit Together, at Anza-Borrego earlier this year – the driver meetings, the sand and off-camber sections, the recovery lessons, and a group of owners finding out what their vans can really do. The Lost Coast trades the desert for coastline, but it’s the same kind of trip.
Registration
Registration and waivers are handled by Backland Adventures – our guide partner for this trip. Space is limited and the owner community is bigger than the group size, so don’t wait if you want in.
Ticket Total
$950
Per registration. Paid and processed through Backland Adventures.
You’ll leave gritoverland.com and continue registration on backlandadventures.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need off-road experience to come?
No. Lost Coast is designed to be beginner-friendly. Friday starts with a driver meeting and recovery instruction. The route stretches your skills without putting you in over your head. If you’ve never driven dirt in your Grit, this is a good first trip.
Can I bring my family? Kids? Dogs?
Check with Backland Adventures when you register. Passenger counts, kids, and pets are all handled on their side. Their confirmation email covers what’s allowed and what to plan for.
What if I don’t own a Grit yet?
Grit Together is owner-exclusive. If you’re still researching, the best next step is a factory tour. Come walk through a van in Washougal and meet the people who build them.
Is this the same trip you did at Anza-Borrego?
Similar format, different terrain. Anza-Borrego earlier this year was desert off-roading – sand, soft shoulders, ancient sea floor. Lost Coast trades desert for coastline – coastal dirt, redwoods, beach camp, ocean views. Same spirit: guided, owner-only, built to teach you what your van can do.
What do I need to bring?
Your Grit van, basic recovery gear (traction boards, shovel, tow strap), camping gear, food and water for the route, and layered clothing for coastal weather. Backland’s rule of thumb is to bring enough to be self-sufficient in the wilderness for 3-5 days. A full packing list comes with your confirmation.
How many people will be on the trip?
Space is limited. Backland keeps Grit Together groups small enough that the guide team can actually watch out for everyone – and the Lost Coast route uses camp sites that aren’t huge, which tends to keep the group on the smaller side. Your spot is reserved when payment is received.
What’s the cancellation policy?
Handled by Backland. If Backland cancels the event, you get a refund or credit. If you cancel, your payment becomes a credit valid for one year – and it’s transferable, so you can pass it to another Grit owner. See Backland’s FAQ for full terms.
Are there more Grit Togethers coming?
Yes. Lost Coast is one trip in the Grit Together series. Keep an eye on the events page or our newsletter for the next one.
See You on the Coast?
Three days. Two nights. The wildest stretch of California shoreline – with your guide team, your van, and other Grit owners. Space is limited.