Mattole Campground
3750 Lighthouse Road, Petrolia, CA 95558
About the Business
Welcome to Mattole Campground, a scenic and serene destination located at 3750 Lighthouse Road, Petrolia, California 95558. Nestled along the stunning North Coast, Mattole Campground offers a unique and affordable coastal camping experience. As an official site of the United States Department of the Interior, we are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable stay for all our visitors.
Our campground features 23 tent and trailer campsites, including two wheelchair accessible sites and two equestrian sites. Each site is equipped with fire rings, picnic tables, and bear-proof trash cans. For your convenience, vault toilets are available on-site. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the easy access to the Mattole River and estuary, as well as the northern trailhead of the renowned Lost Coast Trail, offering breathtaking ocean views and rugged beach landscapes.
Embark on a memorable 3.2-mile hike to the historic Punta Gorda Lighthouse or take a short 600-foot trail through sand dunes to access the pristine beach. However, please be aware that the ocean here is unsafe for swimming due to rip currents, sneaker waves, sudden drop-offs, and forceful waves. Additionally, elephant seals in the area can be unpredictable and aggressive; always maintain a safe distance of at least 100 feet and keep pets on a leash.
Mattole Campground is a hub for day hikers and backpackers seeking the solitude and natural beauty of the Lost Coast. Whether you're coming from Eureka via the South Fork/Honeydew exit (approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes) or from Redway via Wilder Ridge Road (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes), you’ll find that the journey is well worth the destination.
Visit Mattole Campground to immerse yourself in the tranquility and majesty of California’s North Coast. Please remember to share sensitive information only on secure .gov websites and enjoy your stay amidst the unparalleled beauty of nature.
Photos
Reviews
"This place is hidden gem! To hard to get in for RV and it's too windy for the tents. Super beautiful coast! A lot of eagles and other small animals. No potable water. Restroom is average. Well maintained spacy spots. $15 for night. First come, first serve. No host on duty. One mile to fresh water creek."
"Excellent campsite. Not because of amenities, but views and location. Very basic campsite, sandy area with some benches and fire pits and gravel access road. Campsites are located very close it each other, but all the noises are muffled by the sounds of waves. Quite good protection from the wind, although it is quite relative - wind will be there all the time, but not as strong as in the beach. Campsites #1 and #2 are located in very well sheltered bushes. No frsh water, basic pits toilets that were not very clean and quite smelly."
"The beach is absolutely beautiful, but it’s more of a rough and tumble campground. You can’t see the water from the sites, even in a rooftop tent, and there is zero privacy between sites and there is no host. Seems like more of a local spot so it’s hit or miss if you’ll have a quiet night here. The last 3 miles headed into camp have quite a good washboard to them, so expect a bumpy ride. Zero Verizon reception at or around camp. My suggestion would be to do mattole road from ferndale to humboldt redwoods state park and stay there."
"Beautiful area. The campground was nice. Lighthouse road is winding and a bit rough, but a great scenic drive to get to this campground. The beach is just past the campground over the sand dunes. A lovely area to go with a couple friends to BBQ and relax. Lots of tables/areas to pick from. The bathrooms were clean, but no running water. Always remember to bring lots of water while camping out."
"The drive out is pretty rough, but I guess that's what you get when you're looking for a more secluded camping experience. They have bathrooms, picnic benches, and fire pits, but no running water anywhere. Our campsite had some space back in the trees although most of the other sites were just kind of in a clear area. There are only a dozen or so total. The beach was gorgeous. There is a trailhead for the Lost Coast trail which is a 25 mile hike along the coast. We went in early October which meant there were only a few other campers while the weather was still amazing. Will definitely come back here in the future since we didn't know about the river access which we could have brought the kayaks for. Fishing is limited from March to October."
List of local businesses, places and services in California
⭐ business help 🔍 services ☎ phones 🕒 opening times ✍️reviews 🌍 addresses, locations 📷 photos