This is one of my favorite weekend escapes! I love the song-filled landscape and how it changes…read moreseason to season. You can count on observing numerous species of birds, buzzing insects, rabbits, fox and sometimes even otters. The ears eye is continuously enjoying and roving for familiar and unfamiliar sounds. The area is surrounded by Humboldt's waterways, which also makes up scenic treasures. There are trails, benches, and picnic tables to enjoy, and an educational center. It's a lovely and safe place to explore.

We squeezed in a trip here on the last day of our Redwood vacation, stopping by at 4 PM on a…read moreFriday. We quickly found out it would have to be a short trip: signs warned us that gates would be closed at 5 PM and if you are not out by then - oh well. We still got in a short walk, enough to know this is a beautiful refuge for local wildlife. Lots of flowers in mid-June. Alas, not too many birds, but morning visits would probably be different. However, needless to say, with this strict time deadline hanging over our heads our walk could not be extensive! The visitor center looked nice, but it is only open limited days/hours - in spite of the fact that numerous workers could be seen in the center. Beautiful site but don't make the assumption that - unlike almost any other park -it is open until dusk!

Headwaters Forest Reserve is an amazing place and full of natural beauty! The Reserve is managed by…read morethe Bureau of Land Management in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The trails are well maintained and there is a decent size parking lot. This Reserve protects 7,472 acres of old growth redwood groves, other forest stands, streams, and wildlife. This is an amazing place to go hiking at there is a Headwaters Education Center if you want to learn more about this area. There are different hikes you can take varying in length. Some of the trails are paved and some are unpaved. Dogs and bikes are allowed on some of the trails and not on others. The Elk River Trail is the longest trail and it is 11 miles roundtrip. This area is so peaceful and tranquil and loved that this area has been preserved so that everyone can enjoy it!

The land consistently gets trimmed and cared for…read more I have come here for doggie hikes, walks, forest runs and to admire the river/nature. Overall, the high review comes after the expansion of their parking lot. If you are familiar with this place you will know that it used to be a two-way entrance now it is a one-way. Careful when coming in because a car might be backing up or confused it is a one way! I highly appreciate that on the trail they consistently have signs to show you if you are allowed off trailing or not. It is helpful to see a map in case you are unsure how far you want to go in. Take into consideration the amount of miles going in and out. Usually my partner and I go up to the 2nd mile maker which is the bridge overlooking the river. And building up your tolerance from there.

We aren't from the area so I was a little unsure when we first pulled up to the beach. The area…read moreseemed a bit sketchy and the beach doesn't look like much from the road but I'm really glad we stayed and checked it out. This is one of the more interesting beaches that I've been to. There is some grassy wetland, a small cove, and plenty of beach line. You can explore and find lots of interesting things or you can just sit and listen to the waves. We brought our dog and she really enjoyed it. There were also lots of other people with their dogs there. I can't say for sure what the rules are about your dogs being leashed, but we only saw one dog on leash. Our pup was able to play with some other dogs and enjoy the water. We ended up spending much longer here than we had anticipated because we enjoyed it so much.

The beach is clean, the seagulls are fun to watch. A great way to spend the day in nature.read more

We had such an amazing time at this campsite. It's in the redwoods and next to grizzly creek. It's…read more4 miles from Cheatham Groove, where they shot scenes from the movie The Return of the Jedi. They provide activities for the children and guided tours at Cheatham groove. Their Jr Ranger classes are very educational. Ranger Kevin makes the classes very exciting. His enthusiasm makes you want to like insects. Also, it's awesome to learn about the redwoods. The campsites are very small and are close to each other. Some sites are right next to the road. The road is kinda scary, so I do not recommend the sites next to the road. The traffic noise wasn't bad. They have two restrooms with 3 stalls for both women and men. The restroom farther from the visitor center has 2 coin operated showers. So don't forget to bring quarters.

The internet said the park was open and we drove specifically up for it and it was closed. So sad…read more Went to Chatham Grove instead.

Needed to get away from the 100 degree heat of Sacramento. Mattole has no cell coverage, no water…read moreand no electricity (does have outhouses). What it does have is a cool breeze off the ocean, great sunsets, miles of uncrowded beach and a specular star show at night. Camp sites are roomy. Since it's out of the way, doesn't seem to attract the large party crowd. Nice families and couples were our temporary neighbors. It was perfect place to get away.

Amazing views, amazing weather while we were here in July. Lots of backpackers getting ready for…read morethe Lost Coast trail. The other review is correct, the campground is completely flat with no bushes or other obstructions between you and your neighbors. The campground is set just behind the beach and is safe from most of the strong winds. There are only 15ish sites so our first night we ended up camping on the beach and grabbed a spot the next morning as someone left. Just vault toilets, no plumbing. Totally worth it--the site is so remote and the beach is almost private.

Cool little Boat ramp to lower Eel River, No fee, Day-use only…read more Really the only boat ramp in the area. On your way to Crab Park. Would be fun to paddle a SUP OR kayak from ramp. West of community of Loleta. Eel River Drive to Cannibal Island Road to Cock Robin Island Road, on north side of Cock Robin Island bridge.

A nice forest off Rt. 190. No real parking lot, you'll just have to pull into the forest's road and…read morefind a spot, or park off Rt. 190 (unless they've added a lot since I've been there). I enjoyed the trials and the wildlife.

A river bar ("an elevated ridge of sand, gravel, or sediment deposited by the natural flow of…read morewater"), Gould Bar (named after the original owner who gifted it to the state) lies on the banks of the Eel River, right off of the Avenue of the Giants. This was our fifth stop (10:02) during our fifth day of our road trip. There is a dirt hilly path that a good 4x4 could go down. Once down, the gravel bar is big enough to support multiple vehicles, and I could imagine locals and visitors using it for a beach day. I wanted to see it, so walked down on foot while my wife and her mom stayed with the car (parking is side of the road only). Strangely, there is good cell service in this area, and we discovered a Pokemon Go gym (along with being able to create a Yelp business right then and there, which was rare during this trip).