Northern California’s “Lost Coast,” is the most remote stretch of coastline in the Lower 48, with miles and miles of deserted beaches and coves. The enormous steep coastal mountains in the Lost Coast area plunge so sharply into the sea that the main roads had to be built around. Even today, with no major roads passing through, the region remains mostly wild and rugged and is only minimally inhabited. While visiting the Lost Coast in an RV, you’ll find yourself hours away from the rest of civilization, providing an unusual amount of seclusion–part of its key appeal.
The Ekko on the winding roads of the Lost Coast.
Why Visit the Lost Coast in an RV?
James and I have had the Lost Coast on our bucket list for a long time, and just this fall we finally were able to get there. We had done enough research that we knew the roads were going to be rugged, but with our all-wheel-drive Winnebago EKKO, we felt confident we’d be fine. We were fine, but calling those roads ‘rugged’ was an understatement!
The main route through the Lost Coast is a 70-mile adventure on Mattole Road, which starts when you turn off the 101 at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, continuing west to the coast and then north to the historic Victorian village of Ferndale. We quickly learned why very few people travel here. The roads are curvy, narrow, and steep, but also in severe disrepair, buckled and pot-holed by the constant upheavals of tectonic forces. The area is prone to earthquakes because of three tectonic plates that converge off Cape Mendocino, the westernmost point on the coast of California. So, thanks to the rough road, our top speed was only around 20mph, and most of the time we were hovering around 10mph. Visiting the Lost Coast takes fortitude.
James, of the FitRV, takes these California roads slow and steady.
Where to Stay in the Lost Coast in an RV
We made Arthur W Way County Park our basecamp for our visit, and that turned out to be an excellent campground choice. There are no hookups or dump stations, but that was fine with us. We prefer more natural settings, and this park had it in spades. The park is situated along the Mattole River, which you can hear flowing from the campsites. The peaceful sounds of the water set such a pleasant backdrop whenever we were outside. The sites are nicely spread out from each other, and while you cannot make reservations, the campground never fills, according to the friendly camp host. The river is popular for swimming, though while we were there, it was a little too chilly to test it out.
Other Campgrounds Nearby:
Giant Redwoods RV & Cabin DestinationAncient Redwoods RV ParkRiverwalk RV Park & CampgroundMattole River
Cycling the Lost Coast
RVing the Lost Coast wasn’t just about going there. For us, we had the Lost Coast on our bucket list because we wanted to bike it. Mattole Road is a popular route for cyclists, or at least the ones who like to suffer on a bike. Since we fall into that category, we couldn’t wait.
