The area around Shelter Cove was originally home to Native Americans known as the Sinkyone people.

Because of the very steep terrain on the coastal areas surrounding Shelter Cove, the highway builders constructing State Route 1 (the "Pacific Coast Highway") decided it was too difficult to build the coastal highway along a long stretch of what is now the Lost Coast. As a result, the small fishing village of Shelter Cove remained very secluded from the rest of the populous state, despite being only 230 miles north of San Francisco, and is accessible by boat, via small mountain road, or by a small airfield.

As a result of its seclusion, the Shelter Cove are has become a popular spot for those seeking quiet vacation respite or retirement area. Popular activities in the area include fishing, whale watching, hiking, diving for abalone, surfing and other outdoor activities.

The Cape Mendocino Light, a lighthouse from Cape Mendocino, was moved to Mal Coombs Park in 1998.

Shelter Cove is a small fishing community that clings to the steep coast of California in a spot that has been inhabited off and on for many years, starting as far back as the thirteenth century, when it was occupied by natives. These people may have belonged to what is currently known of as the Sinkyone Indians. The natives, explorers, loggers, tan bark collectors, sheepherders, fishermen, and tourists were the people that made up this long history. In modern times The Cove was abandoned then repopulated by a new type of individual that promoted tourism and fishing as the main stay of the area. These men were in part, if not in whole the Machi Brothers.  

The earliest residents may have come through the hills in the spring time to reside along the ocean where the cooler climate of the ocean proximity provided a more comfortable environment than the hot inland valleys. The ocean and area also provided an ample supply of food stuffs. Evidence also suggested that this practice of migration was carried on further north at the mouth of the Mattole River and also the Bear Harbor area to the south. There may also be evidence that some of these people wintered over. But the weather on this section of the coast can be fierce at times during the winter with the cold driving rains and winds making portions of the winter even in the densely forested areas cold, damp and inhospitable.  

Early trade ships from Spain are known to have been in the Cove, Russians explored the coast and founded a community further south at Fort Ross. It could be assumed that they probably stopped here as one of the reasons for their settlements and explorations was the seal trade. This group of early inhabitant left no permanent record or evidence of their being here except legend and ships records.  

Early exploitation on a permanent basis were sheep and cattle ranching. After this came the tan bark industry that built a wharf used to load the tan bark and later the fish and to off load the supplies and tourists that came up from San Francisco and beyond.  

Highway 1 was built in the early part of the twentieth century. It had to by pass; Shelter Cove. This fact and the eventual abandonment of the settlements here led to the term "LOST COAST". With the highways inland and the tan barks supplies dried up and both world wars, the  significance of Shelter Cove as a terminus was changed. But three young men who had worked here in the summers during the '30s remembered the Cove and their hearts know doubt were always here. The three Machi brothers returned and started the new community that we know today. They themselves clung to life tenuously, promoting tourism and fishing by renting boats and rooms. Shelter Cove then became part of a land speculation and development project that created the large infrastructure you see around; Roads, water, sewer disposal and the fire protection were created by this project.  

Shelter Cove today is a growing community of fishermen, builders, real estate agents, retirees, and service persons. The main income from outside is tourism, fishing, home building and retirees. Residents take a pride in their community, and look out for the plentiful wild life in the area. They enjoy everyday they spend here just as much as the visitor does and thus there is a happy feeling in the area that passes from one to another via a contagious smile and friendly wave of the hand.  

Shelter Cove's future is bright, as the area continues to grow and more and more tourists show up to look and feel the ambiance of the area. Fishing remains good and the surf is always up. "Eco tourism" and hiking is also an ever growing attraction. Retirement homes and week-end homes continue to be built. Shelter Cove has a great future ahead.  

Shelter Cove is a small fishing community that clings to the steep coast of California in a spot that has been inhabited off and on for many years, starting as far back as the thirteenth century, when it was occupied by natives. These people may have belonged to what is currently known of as the Sinkyone Indians. The natives, explorers, loggers, tan bark collectors, sheepherders, fishermen, and tourists were the people that made up this long history. In modern times The Cove was abandoned then repopulated by a new type of individual that promoted tourism and fishing as the main stay of the area. These men were in part, if not in whole the Machi Brothers.  

The earliest residents may have come through the hills in the spring time to reside along the ocean where the cooler climate of the ocean proximity provided a more comfortable environment than the hot inland valleys. The ocean and area also provided an ample supply of food stuffs. Evidence also suggested that this practice of migration was carried on further north at the mouth of the Mattole River and also the Bear Harbor area to the south. There may also be evidence that some of these people wintered over. But the weather on this section of the coast can be fierce at times during the winter with the cold driving rains and winds making portions of the winter even in the densely forested areas cold, damp and inhospitable.  

Early trade ships from Spain are known to have been in the Cove, Russians explored the coast and founded a community further south at Fort Ross. It could be assumed that they probably stopped here as one of the reasons for their settlements and explorations was the seal trade. This group of early inhabitant left no permanent record or evidence of their being here except legend and ships records.  

Early exploitation on a permanent basis were sheep and cattle ranching. After this came the tan bark industry that built a wharf used to load the tan bark and later the fish and to off load the supplies and tourists that came up from San Francisco and beyond.  

Highway 1 was built in the early part of the twentieth century. It had to by pass; Shelter Cove. This fact and the eventual abandonment of the settlements here led to the term "LOST COAST". With the highways inland and the tan barks supplies dried up and both world wars, the  significance of Shelter Cove as a terminus was changed. But three young men who had worked here in the summers during the '30s remembered the Cove and their hearts know doubt were always here. The three Machi brothers returned and started the new community that we know today. They themselves clung to life tenuously, promoting tourism and fishing by renting boats and rooms. Shelter Cove then became part of a land speculation and development project that created the large infrastructure you see around; Roads, water, sewer disposal and the fire protection were created by this project.  

Shelter Cove today is a growing community of fishermen, builders, real estate agents, retirees, and service persons. The main income from outside is tourism, fishing, home building and retirees. Residents take a pride in their community, and look out for the plentiful wild life in the area. They enjoy everyday they spend here just as much as the visitor does and thus there is a happy feeling in the area that passes from one to another via a contagious smile and friendly wave of the hand.  

Shelter Cove's future is bright, as the area continues to grow and more and more tourists show up to look and feel the ambiance of the area. Fishing remains good and the surf is always up. "Eco tourism" and hiking is also an ever growing attraction. Retirement homes and week-end homes continue to be built. Shelter Cove has a great future ahead.