Defensibility check: this is a researched route guide built from official state park information and published ride/travel reports — not a first-person account. I haven’t ridden this route myself; flagging that clearly.
Most Bay Area riders’ idea of “going north” tops out around Point Reyes or maybe the Mendocino coast. Three hours further up Highway 101, past Garberville, there’s a 31-mile stretch of two-lane road that runs through some of the oldest, largest trees on Earth — and it’s genuinely rideable in an afternoon detour off the highway you’re probably already on.
The route, in plain terms
The Avenue of the Giants (officially State Route 254) runs parallel to US-101 through Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County, about 200 miles north of San Francisco. It’s consistently described as 31-32 miles long, starting about 2 miles south of Phillipsville and running north through Miranda, Myers Flat, Weott, and Redcrest before rejoining 101 near Pepperwood.
This isn’t a narrow, technical canyon road — it’s a former alignment of the old Redwood Highway, wide enough for comfortable two-lane travel, running through and directly alongside 17,000 acres of old-growth coast redwood forest, including the 10,000-acre Rockefeller Forest — the largest contiguous old-growth redwood forest left in the world.
What makes it worth the detour
- You’re riding through the trees, not just past them. Several sections put branches and trunks close enough on both sides that the road genuinely feels tunnel-like — a different experience than viewing redwoods from a parking lot.
- It parallels the Eel River for much of its length, adding river views to the redwood canopy.
- Multiple access points off 101 mean you don’t have to commit to the whole 31 miles if you’re short on time — Phillipsville, Miranda, Myers Flat, and Weott (where the park visitor center sits) all connect directly.
- Fuel and services exist along the route, unlike a lot of remote scenic roads. Myers Flat, in particular, is noted as one of the few reliable fuel stops directly on the Avenue itself — worth topping off there rather than assuming you’ll find something further along.
When to ride it
Independent sources converge on the same seasonal guidance:
- Spring and early fall are consistently recommended for lighter traffic.
- Summer brings heavier tourist traffic (this is a well-known destination, not a hidden gem) but also the best weather for stopping to swim in the Eel River if you’re pairing the ride with a longer stop.
- Winter is quieter still, but check conditions — this is Northern California coastal redwood country, meaning rain and reduced visibility are realistic possibilities outside the dry season.
Before you go
- This is a slow ride, not a canyon-carving one. The appeal here is the scenery and the trees, not aggressive pace — treat it as a scenic cruise, and budget real time to actually stop, not just pass through.
- Cell coverage inside old-growth forest sections can be inconsistent — standard practice for remote California forest roads, plan accordingly.
- It’s genuinely a half-day-to-full-day experience if you want to see the major groves properly, not just a quick pass-through — budget your ride schedule accordingly if Humboldt Redwoods State Park’s visitor center or the major named groves are on your list.
Bottom line
If your Northern California riding has stopped somewhere around Mendocino, Avenue of the Giants is the reason to keep going. It’s an easy, well-serviced, genuinely scenic 31-mile add-on directly off 101 — not a remote gamble, just a road most Bay Area riders don’t go quite far enough north to reach.
Sources: California State Parks (parks.ca.gov) official Humboldt Redwoods State Park page; Wikipedia’s Avenue of the Giants entry; Pashnit motorcycle road guide; Dairyland Insurance’s Avenue of the Giants rider guide; Save the Redwoods League seasonal riding guidance.