Covering more than 900,000 acres in Northwestern California's Coastal Mountain Range, Mendocino National Forest is the only national forest in California that is not connected to civilization by a major paved road. Nonetheless, there are a number of recreation areas within the forest where people come for boating, hiking, climbing and off-roading.
Mendocino is characterized by mountains, rivers, waterfalls and pine forests. The forest is divided up into districts, each of which offers a different set of landscapes and attractions. Black bears inhabit forest areas, while mountain lions are sometimes seen at higher elevations.