Cape Mendocino and the Lost Coast

[TimH]

Took a detour on the way down to Redding and poked out to the lost coast. This is where Jurassic Park was filmed. Very hard to get to and very rugged. Also amazingly beautiful.

From 101 we headed west into the redwoods

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr133/hoehnt/truck-redwoods2.jpg

There is a small camp ground on the beach near Petrolia. This is the town where the first oil well in California was drilled. The campground is at the very top of the lost coast, one of the largest wilderness areas and the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the continental United States. This area is a major earthquake zone and there are 3 major faults converging in this exact spot.

Looking north from the camp site

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To the south

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Driving toward Cape Town

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[TimH]

Our camp site

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr133/hoehnt/b.gif

The original Cape Mendocino lighthouse and its memorial sign.

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looking down on Cape Town.

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[TimH]

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[DGentry]

Been there, done that. Amazing.
Hard to believe there's still a wild and largely uninhabited coast like that in the CONUS.

Great pics, thanks!

Dave Gentry

[Thorne]

A lovely area, to be sure. The loop from Weott on 101 up to Ferndale is one of our favorites.

http://www.humboldtlandman.com/user_images/humboldt-county-map2.jpg

[Hal Forsen]

One of my favorite places on earth.


The loop from Weott on 101 up to Ferndale is one of our favorites.

The locals call that road "The Wil' Cat" :D

[Steve Lansdowne]

Hey, delete this post. I don't want to advertise to the rest of the world how great it is, or they'll all move there!

[BobW]

I don't know about moving there, but I am wondering why I haven't at least visited the area!

Absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks.

Bob

[pcford]

The OR and CA coast is wonderful. Never been to the Lost Coast.

Look up Shi-Shi beach near Neah Bay WA.

[Nanoose]

Ah, yes...Cape Mendocino..."a gale lives there"....we found that sailor's tale to be true. Will never forget our 40 hours off Cape Mendocino....

[elf]

The most exciting roads I've driven in the Lost Coast were the one to the Usal campground North-ish through the redwood forest from Rt. 1, the Usal Road, and the road to the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park headquarters on the Briceland Road. Unfortunately, when I was last up there it was too early in summer for me to drive the entire Usal Road all the way up to Briceland, but it would have topped the trip just to Usal Campground.

On the other hand, Usal Campground was one of the most amazing experiences in my camping life. Amazing that people drive motor homes in there.

Looking across the mouth of Usal creek towards the road into Usal:
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1915/26/31/749884916/n749884916_1106239_1507.jpg

The Pacific at Petrolia:
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1915/26/31/749884916/n749884916_1106237_960.jpg

The Pacific at the Mattole campground just below Petrolia:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1915/26/31/749884916/n749884916_1106240_1807.jpg

Eschscholzia on a fence at Capetown - an intersection along the Mattole Road:
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1915/26/31/749884916/n749884916_1106236_678.jpg

[Thorne]

I don't know about moving there, but I am wondering why I haven't at least visited the area!


Well, if you are driving yourself up to my Big Lagoon Messabout this upcoming May 14-16, just leave a day early or take an extra day getting back and drive the loop. Highly recommended!

[BobW]

Well, if you are driving yourself up to my Big Lagoon Messabout this upcoming May 14-16, just leave a day early or take an extra day getting back and drive the loop. Highly recommended!

I'll do that! Maybe on the back end of the trip... extend the weekend before heading back to waste-land that is Sacramento...

Bob

[TimH]

Ah, yes...Cape Mendocino..."a gale lives there"....we found that sailor's tale to be true. Will never forget our 40 hours off Cape Mendocino....

Somewhere I saw it refered to as the "Cape Horn" of North America.

[WX]

Hey, delete this post. I don't want to advertise to the rest of the world how great it is, or they'll all move there!

Looks like a great place for trailer park, a MacDonalds and maybe a Walmart.

;D

[TimH]

Next time we will check out the Shelter Cove end. It would be fun to hike the whole beach in the summer.