Watershed
The river and its 74 tributaries drain about 304 square miles (787 square km), including the eastern side of the King Range, and flows through Mattole Valley before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Although the Mattole River's source is at ~1,780 feet of elevation, its tributaries originate as high as 4,000 feet above sea level. The North Fork of the Mattole River enters the river mainstem about 0.5 miles up from Petrolia. For most of its length, the river is only a few miles (~6–7 km) east of the King Range National Conservation Area. About halfway to the ocean, near Honeydew, California, the river passes by Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The two largest tributaries are Honeydew Creek and Bear Creek.
Read more about this topic: Mattole River