Mattole Campground: Petrolia California

A VERY SECLUDED AND BEAUTIFUL CAMPGROUND 

Feeling Lucky? Ready to take your chances? Well have we got a campground for you! We headed out from the Bay Area to find the Mattole campground with little more information than seeing it on a map. We knew nothing about it other than it looked like a great ocean side location. 

The Big Drive

We drove up Highway 101 to the town of Garberville and headed west. The road soon became windy and bumpy and seemed to go on forever. We wondered if we would ever get there. And what would we find when we finally did arrive? Surely we didn’t want to have to turn around and go back. 

As we reached what we hoped was the top of the mountain pass, we still had no ocean view. Down we went on more of the bumpy windy road. The interior of the van sounded like we were in an earthquake. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, the steep road turned to loose gravel. Did our heavy van have enough traction to not go sliding off the road? Well, we made it through the gravel sections we are happy to say, but we still had no indication the ocean was nearby. 

After over two hours of driving, we sensed we were at or at least near sea level. The map took us down a gravel road and soon indicated we were at our destination, but there was no campsite or ocean in view. We were just on the same gravel road with bushes on either side. At this moment we were feeling very disappointed and all we could think about was the long trek back up and over the hill. We decided to keep going down the gravel road which soon turned into a washboard surface causing even more shaking inside the van. It was then that we spotted a river to our right which we hoped lead to the ocean. 

Finally!

We finally came to a clearing where there where trucks, tractors and one vaulted toilet structure. we thought to ourselves, “great, it’s closed. We drove a bit further and saw a big trailer and a few vehicles at what looked like a campsite. After confirming the site was actually open, we each let out a huge sigh of relief. 

There were only 12 sites as 2 had been closed due to the construction going on. We found a site, pulled in and set up camp. We walked out to the beautiful beach that went on as far as we could see. Quite the adventure for a one night stay. 

The next day we took the other of two ways in and out on our way to Boise Creek Campground. The trip was equally slow and bumpy but did offer some amazing views. So, if you are feeling lucky, give the Mattole campground a try. Oh, and bring cash or check. We only had a $20 bill, so we chalked it up as helping with the renovation.

Amenities

• Picnic tables
• Fire rings
• Vault Toilets
• May not have potable water available
• While the campground will remain open, new updates underway as of this writing will expand the campground from 14 to 23 campsites. All campsites will be improved with new picnic tables, campfire rings, trash cans, and tent pad areas.

Pros

• A beautiful quiet, isolated location. A gorgeous wide and very long beach within a 100 yards of the campground.
• Only $8 a night (cash or check)

Cons

• A long bumpy and windy road to get there (make sure you have plenty of gas before you exit off highway 101)
• No guarantee there will be a site available once you get there. First come first serve.
• Did I mention the roads and bumpy and windy!!

Cell Service

• ATT – No Signal
• T-Mobile – No Signal

Location

Latitude / Longitude 40.28918, -124.355879

You have two ways to get there off highway 101. Option one, which is the way I came out, is to take US 211 off of highway 101 in Fernbridge. This is the less bumpy route but still a slow windy haul for 42 miles. 

Option two, which is the way I went in, you take Maple Lane just outside of Garberville. This route is very windy, bumpy and steep in sections. There are some areas of gravel from previous road washouts. This route is 51 miles. I would recommend the first route going in and out. Map your destination and print the map as cell service is sketchy.

Have Fun, be Safe and let me know if your experience was as “exciting” as mine. If you are looking for another great primitive campground, check out our review of Ruck-a-Chucky in Auburn California.

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