The ecological amplitudes, associated lichens, and substrates of fifteen regionally rare coastal epiphytic lichens (Bryoria pseudocapillaris, B. spiralifera, B. subcana, Erioderma sorediatum, Heterodermia leucomela, Hypotrachyna revoluta, Leioderma sorediatum, Leptogium brebissonii, Niebla cephalota, Pannaria rubiginosa, Pseudocyphellaria perpetua, Pyrrhospora quernea, Ramalina pollinaria, Teloschistes flavicans, and Usnea hesperina) in 85 randomly-selected and 49 purposively-selected 0.04 ha circular plots along a 5 km wide strip of Pacific coastline from San Francisco Bay to the U.S.-Canadian border are reported. Logistic regression, used to identify environmental variables most indicative of suitable habitat, indicated that small changes in climate and forest type strongly affected probability of occurrence for many species. Threats to coastal lichens, including climate change, are discussed. The findings can be used to aid discovery of additional populations and manage existing habitat.