Avenue of the Giants ~ CA state route 254
20 miles south of Redwood National Park
This page is an off-shoot of > Largest Coast Redwoods
Copyright 2009 ~ Mario Vaden
Avenue of the Giants is approximately 40 miles south of Eureka, California, and 167 miles north of Santa Rosa. Image: 2 men from Germany who were in the area for a music festival. Standing by a redwood next to the Mahon Plaque Trail.
The Avenue of the Giants is the scenic redwood forest drive along California state route 254 through Humboldt Redwoods State Park: previously part of US highway 101.
The south entrance to the Avenue of the Giants is north of Garberville, and the north entrance is south of Fortuna near Redcrest. The highway is famous for Coast Redwoods that surround the small highway lanes. The road winds along the Eel River, connecting several small towns: Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, Burlington, Weott, Englewood, Redcrest and Pepperwood.
The road has numerous turnouts, parking areas, picnic sites, and attractions for visitors. Bull Creek, which is more of a river, flows into the Eel River. The rivers provide many excellent swimming locations, like near the Rockefeller forest Redwood grove.
Founders Grove ~ Dyerville Loop Road
Near Weott, Founders Grove has an easy half mile self-guided walk. This trail is an example of old-growth redwood forest and contains a few very big trees, including the 346' tall Founders redwood, and the 370 foot long Dyerville Giant which fell down in 1991. Turn off Avenue of the Giants route 254 onto Dyerville Loop Rd.
Just to the south aloing 254 and virtually interconnected with this area, is a Mahon Plaque trail. Don't limit yourself to just the famous destinations listed on brochures. If you see an attractive spot with parking, pull over and explore a path.
Mattole Rd. ~ Bull Creek Flats Rd.
This road is pretty much one and the same. Turn west onto this road from Avenue of the Giants. The turn is a very short distance before Dyerville Loop Rd. which is only about 1000 feet farther to the south down route 254. Heading down Bull Creek Flats Rd. are trailheads, Albee Campground and parking for the Tall and Giant Redwoods.
Some of the best hiking is along the Bull Creek Flats in this area, through giant old growth. A famous Bull Creek Giant redwood is somewhere near Bull Creek in this area.
Immortal Redwood
Along the Avenue of the Giants, northern stretch, you may see a sign for the Immortal Redwood. Said to be over 950 years old and close to 250 feet tall. It survived the 1964 flood, a 1908 attempt at logging, and direct lightning strike which removed 45 feet. Markers are visible on this redwood, denoting the heights where axes and floodwaters struck. You may see a gift shop and RV Park nearby. One noteworthy thing about this redwood is the 1964 flood marker showing high high the entire Bull River was. When you stand there, look at the marker and imagine the water level that high in all directions.
As with most other redwood parks, contact the Humboldt Redwoods State Park park ranger office about trails, camping and other information.