Difficult to access by land and sea, this area was not even explored until 1849. In many places, Highway 101 runs along the California Coast, and where it doesn't, Highway 1 usually does. On this section of coast in Humboldt County, the extremely steep and rocky terrain at the ocean has forced even Highway 1 to turn inland, leaving one of the few untouched coastal areas in California.
The gateway town of Redway opens the southern end of the lost coast area. The town of Petrolia, once the site of oil drilling, is located on the Lost Coast near the mouth of the Mattole River.
