We all know that California is famous for its unbelievable giant sequoias, which are the largest trees on the planet.
But even many lifelong Californians have never experienced the Avenue of the Giants, a scenic 31-mile highway in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, which Humboldt County has described as the “most scenic drive among the redwoods” and the “finest forest drive in the world.”
Here’s a closer look at this jaw-dropping redwood route in NorCal.
Driving the Avenue of the Giants
The Avenue of the Giants is a two-lane state highway (CA State Route 254) that was originally the main alignment of US-101 before a freeway bypass in 1960. It’s a popular detour paralleling the 101 and the Eel River, and can take less than an hour to drive top-to-bottom with no stops. However, most travelers pull over to see the world’s oldest trees on foot.
From San Francisco, it’s a 215-mile, four-hour drive up the 101—through scenic wine country including Sonoma and Napa—to reach the Avenue’s southern entrance in Philipsville (exit 645). From the north, you can enter through Pepperwood (exit 674).
Drivers can follow an Auto Tour, which comprises eight signs along the route designating worthwhile stops and interpretive panels. They usually lead to short hiking trails and historic groves.
Best redwood groves and stops
As mentioned, the Avenue of the Giants travels right through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, so you’ll find plenty of clearly-marked hiking trails, interpretive signage, and resources to help you navigate the historic old-growth redwood forest. Here are a few essential spots to put on your radar.
Founders Grove
The Founders Grove Nature Trail Loop is an easy, half-mile trek leading to some of the area’s most unbelievable redwood specimens. Look for the 325-foot-tall Founders Tree, which was the world’s tallest tree from 1931 to 1957, and the 2000-year-old fallen Dyerville Giant.
Rockefeller Forest
The 0.6-mile Rockefeller Loop trail takes you through the 10,000-acre Rockefeller Forest. While smaller than Founders Grove, this area of the park is considered the largest old-growth coastal redwood forest in the world, according to Visit Humboldt.
Shrine Drive Thru Tree
Can you take a scenic redwood drive without driving through a famous tunnel tree? The Shrine Drive Thru Tree in Myers Flat has a mostly natural, cleaved opening that is big enough to fit a car.
