Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants Review

Some of the tallest trees on Earth tower over this magnficent 32-mile stretch of two-lane blacktop, also known as Highway 254, that follows the south fork of the Eel River through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The highway runs more or less parallel to U.S. 101 from about 7 miles north of Garberville to the town of Pepperwood. A brochure available at either end of the highway or the visitor center, 2 miles south of Weott, contains a self-guided tour, with short and long hikes through various redwood groves. A trail at Founders Grove passes by several impressive trees, among them the fallen 362-foot-long Dyerville Giant, whose root base points skyward 35 feet. The tree can be reached via a short trail that begins 4 miles north of the visitor center. About 6 miles north of the center lies Rockefeller Forest. The largest remaining old-growth coast redwood forest, it contains 40 of the 100 tallest trees in the world.