#mattoleroad #humboldtcounty #lostcoast
Mattole Road is one of Northern California’s most scenic drives. If going north to south like we did, your road trip will start in the quaint town of Ferndale, which is known for its colorful Victorian architecture.
Mattole Road is certainly not for the faint of heart. It’s a bumpy, windy, steep road through some of the most undeveloped land in the state of California. There’s a reason this region has been named the Lost Coast.
Drive through farmlands, tiny towns, and along the beautiful and rugged coastline. There is one detour of the main route that we highly recommend. Hang a right on Lighthouse Road and get ready for a bumpy ride as you navigate the unpaved path down to where the Mattole River ends and empties into the Pacific Ocean.
Following this ultra scenic detour, the road continues to wind as you make your way into Humboldt Redwoods State Park, a fitting ending to a seriously stunning drive!
There are plenty of great places to hike under the canopy of redwoods, though after that awesome drive, you might want to save it for another day.
Some tips for driving this route:
- Drive the route from north to south
- Make sure your gas tank is full before you set out
- Bring plenty of food and snacks for the drive, as there is extremely limited options for dining
- Despite the fact that you’re exploring the Lost Coast, it’s pretty hard to get lost along this route, but it’s best to download offline maps prior to your drive just in case. Cell service can be pretty non-existent in these parts.
- Don’t rush… we pretty much gave ourselves the entire day to explore along the route. Don’t listen to what Google Maps may say. Guaranteed this trip will take you longer than is shown.
Music obtained via the YouTube Audio Library:
Dusk Til Dawn (Track Tribe)
Parasail (Silent Partner)
Stellar Wind (Unicorn Heads)
