Mattole Road is a Lost Coastal Scenic Drive in CA

Mattole Road is the name of a very scenic drive located in Lost Coast, a mostly natural and development-free area of the California North Coast, in USA.

How long is the Lost Coast Scenic Drive?

Tucked away in Humboldt County, in the U.S. state of California, the road is 104km (65 miles) long. It runs from US-101 road to Ferndale. The road is also known as Lost Coast Scenic Drive and the Lost Coast Highway.

Is Mattole Road paved?

The road is mostly paved with some unpaved (usually about a city block or less) parts. It’s rough at times but well worth the trip. Do not do this in the rain (or after a recent rain), or in the dark. There is little to no cell phone coverage. The road has some steep grades, topping out at 742m (2,434ft) above the sea level. Expect large and innumerable potholes and even places where the road is half washed out. The area is seismically active, so be prepared, and take note of the tsunami warning signs and evacuation routes posted along. It is mostly two-lanes, although they're usually very narrow lanes, with plenty of curves and gravelly switchbacks. Even though it's a while before the ocean comes into view, it's still an awesome drive.

How long does it take to drive Mattole Road?

The road is very scenic with incredible ocean vistas. Plan about 2 hours to complete the drive. The drive offers stunning views of what is called "The Lost Coast," the longest completely undeveloped stretch of shoreline in California. Flanked by the highest seaside mountains in the Continental U.S., the Lost Coast provides one of the most remote wilderness treks in the lower 48. This epic Northern California scenic drive has hidden beaches and redwood forests. Selected by National Geographic as one of the thirty-six most scenic drives in the USA, Mattole Road traces its erratic course through some of the most remote areas of the country. The Lost Coast is California's only coastal wilderness, where no development or major roads come near the ocean.