The Lost Coast Highway is a fairytale road of winding, climbing, scenic views and breathtaking vistas of the ocean, Redwoods, and one of the most undeveloped coastlines in the United States. At 75 miles, it takes a few hours and it’s littered with pot holes but it is absolutely worth the effort and time. To start the drive, leave Redwood Highway 101 at the Honeydew exit, which is 2 miles north of the town of Weott. The first thing you’ll pass is the amazing Rockefeller Forest, which is worth a stop. You then drive through the northern edge of the King Range of mountains as you eel your way south for a bit. The mountain views of fog covered peaks is a gorgeous one. On this Mattole Road aka Highway 211 aka The Lost Coast Highway you’ll run into plenty of ranches and weed farms. You’ll see green houses, fuzzy cattle, horses, and plenty of dogs. Make sure to drive like you live there in the small towns.

One of those small towns, Petrolia, had the very first oil well in the entire United States. California is stuffed with oil they could use to better the world if they so chose, which is crazy to think about if you’ve lived in the upside-down state.

The road eventually gets to Cape Mendocino. Now if you’re coming from the south side, it’s amazing and there’s a spot at the top of the hill to pull over and you should, but if you’re coming from the north side, the view at the top of the extremely steep summit is absolutely incredible. National Geographic has called this road one of the most scenic (#36) routes in the United States. They’re not wrong. At the coast are black sand beaches you’ll have to yourself but there aren’t very many places to pull over and park so be alert.

The north end of the road ends at the beautiful and stuck in time Ferndale which is a beautiful town and the place that Guy Fieri is from.

The Highway was originally planned to be a continuation of the Pacific Coast Highway or “The 1” but by 1984 it was realized that the steepness of the road, the geological activity of the area, the necessity of cutting down more Redwoods, and the cost of the whole project made it unfeasible. Hence why it’s called the Lost Coast.