Selected by National Geographic as one of the thirty-six most scenic drives in the country, Mattole Road traces its eratic course through some of the most remote areas of the country. Starting from the charming Victorian village of Ferndale, it rises high atop a ridge of coastal mountains, with spectacular views of verdant ranches overlooking blue seas. Then it swings to Cape Mendocino, the most Western part of California, where three giant tectonic plates grind together, preparing to set off the next devastating tsunami. After a six mile jog along the coast, you find yourself skirting 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. Following Mattole Road, however, we enter into the Southern Interior of Humboldt County, passing sheep and cattle ranches. The tiny hamlets of Petrolia and Honeydew are hardly more than flyspecks across the window as you pass down the road, until you reach the steep windy road that leads you over the pass just to the side of Grasshopper Peak, and into another valley full of giant of Redwoods, which crowd into the narrow road like so many grim sentinels. Finally, your 65 mile journey ends when you reach the famous Avenue of the Giants, only a stones throw from Highway 101.

	Here, at the beginning of our trip, we get a glimpse, through two mighty trees, of Ferndale, are starting point.		Ferndale's most famous structure, the so-called Gingerbread Mansion.
	As we climb higher on Mattole Road, we get a stunning view of the Elk River Valley, in which Ferndale and its sister city, Fortuna, bask in the rare Humboldt Summer sunshine.		A more distant view of Elk River Valley, as we run along a stretch known as Wildcat Ridge.
	Here we are looking North, where we can barely see, through a hedge and over several verdant ridges, where the Eel River flows into the Pacific.		Looking toward the east, and the ridges of mountains therein found in Southern Humboldt and Northern Mendocino Counties.
	A stretch of Mattole Road high on Wildcat Ridge that runs along these beautiful evergreen trees.		Golden fields -- pasture lands -- overlooking the blue sea not far from Cape Mendocino.
	A blanket of fog slowly creeps over the side of a ridge high atop Wildcat Ridge.		Here we find Mattole Road traveling along ranching fields, with the Pacific Ocean boldly in view. Around this corner, is Capetown, a tiny hamlet of a few barns and houses.
	View of Capetown from a ridge overlooking it.		Here we see Mattole Road winding its away out of the Capetown gorge over the final ridge separating it from Cape Mendocino.
	Mattole Road heading straight to the most Western part of California.		Cape Mendocino, with Mattole Road on the right. The fence is there because this is private grazing land. Often one finds cattle nibbling in the fields just a stone throne from the treacherous Pacific, full of sadistic riptides and freezing salt water.
	Mattole Road as it curves along the shoreline just south of Cape Mendocino.		More of the coastline south of Cape Mendocino.
	Looking toward King Range (the blue mountains in the background) and the "Lost Coast."		At this point, Mattole Road turns inland and climbs back into the coastal hills, affording this backward glance at the coast, including Cape Mendocino in the distance. Notice the cattle grazing in the right cornerof the picture.
	As we drive inland, we enter more ranch country, with grazing lands situated in rich canyons of grass, green shrubs, and trees.		Taking a side trip down Lighthouse Road, which follows Mattole Creek to the Ocean, we find ourselves in the Lost Coast. Here we see some foothills of the King Mountain Range, under a gorgeous blue sky.
	Here is the shorefront of the Lost Coast, gazing toward Cape Mendocino. The shore here rose four feet in the earthquake ten years ago.		Here is what looks like a freezed-dried sea otter that has been spit out onto the beach by the mighty Pacific.
	A seagull leads the way along this isolated stretch of the Lost Coast. The goal of our trek? The Punta Gorda lighthouse!		An old cabin by the seaside, not far from Punta Gorda Lighthouse (though it has no relation to lighthouse, and is actually owned by private resident).
	We come even closer yet to the abandoned lighthouse.		Here's the lighthouse up close. At one time, this little lighthouse was manned by a keeper -- one of the loneliest keeper's on the American coastline.
	Here's the view from inside of the lighthouse, looking out on the treacherous Pacific Ocean.		A view from within the lighthouse looking South along the Lost Coast.
	Here we have one last look at the Lighthouse, which is a mere speck on the horizon. At our feet is Punta Gorda creek.		The only available restroom on the Northcoast, this battered outhouse features a wonderful view of the ocean from its front windows.
	Lost Coast trail heading North.		The waves foam up against the black sand along the Lost Coast.
	Heading back toward Lighthouse Road, we will now return to Mattole and head toward Petrolia.		The Catholic Church of Petrolia, which stands on the side of a hill leading out of town.
	After running through the little hamlet of Honeydew, Mattole Road climbs into some steep mountains. Halfway up the first set of switchbacks we find this cross, with the King Range in the background.		Rancher country along Mattole Road.
	Mattole Road carries over a pass and down into a broad valley filled with giant redwoods. At one stop we find the famous "flat-iron" tree.		Not far from the flat-iron tree is the so-called "Big Tree." This is truly an enormous tree, which completely dwarfs any humanoid who dares to stand anywhere near it.
	The Big Tree leans to the right, as can be seen in this picture.		Bull Creek, as it trickles alongside Mattole Road.
	A pleasant meadow along the side of Mattole Road.		A reflecting pool in Bull Creek.
	More scenes alongside Mattole Road as it faces its final few miles.

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