We drove out to the Mattole Trailhead in the King Range Wilderness to day hike out to The Punta Gorda Lighthouse and back. It was a beautiful day and we saw the colony of elephant seals near the lighthouse.
Sign at the trailhead warning of dangers along the Pacific Ocean here at the Lost Coast.
The first 1-1/2 to 2 miles was walking in the sand dunes, with views up and down the coast.
Views ahead to Windy Point
There was a beautiful black sand beach here.
Lots of sea rocks along Punta Gorda and many seagulls.
We enjoyed watching the waves come in and we saw some harbor seals out in the water.
There were lots of shells washed up onto the beach.
And many sea urchins, quite a few had been broken open and eaten.
We crossed Fourmile Creek on these logs.
Looking back northward after crossing Fourmile Creek.
The Punta Gorda Lighthouse is abandoned.
The lighthouse as seen from the other side.
Just south of the lighthouse is a colony of elephant seals with many pups.
There were also many harbor seals swimming a short distance off shore among these rocks.
As we hiked back towards Mattole, we saw several groups of pelicans fly by,
and some turkey vultures.
