Avenue of the Giants: Best Stops To See Majestic Redwoods
Avenue of the Giants has some of the most spectacular giant redwoods in Northern California and truly a jaw-dropping sight.
Off of Highway 101 with the fitting name of “Redwoods Highway” you can view countless Avenue of the Giants redwoods.
This 31-mile stretch is made for road tripping as you’ll see some of the tallest redwoods up to 370 feet with most just steps from your car.
These ancient giants range in age but the older ones are over 2,000 years old with most between 500 to 1,000 years old.
It is truly mind blowing how old and tall these trees can get. In fact, the giant coastal redwood is the tallest tree in the world!
To stand beneath a mammoth sized tree like a coastal redwood is an experience like nothing else.
There are numerous places to pull over to see redwood trees but in this post I’ll share the best places to stop along the Avenue of the Giants that you don’t want to miss.
Plus, find info on where to stay, important tips, and how long to spend in preparation for your trip!
It doesn’t matter if you start your drive from the north or south but since I was coming from a stay in Mendocino, I entered via the South entrance.
Tip: Although not officially part of the Avenue of Giants, make a point to stop at the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree and Richardson’s Grove just a little south.
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Avenue Of The Giants Best Stops
1. Bolling Grove
Coming from the south, Bolling Grove is the first stop right before you enter the town of Myers Flat.
Bolling Grove was one of the first groves to be protected and to become part of Humboldt Redwoods State Park in 1921.
Here, you can walk among the first of many giant Redwood trees in California as you’ll be seeing a ton on this drive.
What is great about this stop is that anyone can visit as the mighty redwoods are steps from your car. No need to jump on a trail to see them!
I walked around the area but didn’t need to go far to see a pretty section of old-growth Redwood trees.
The grove got its name after dedicating it to Colonel Raynal C. Bolling who was the first high-ranking American officer to die in World War I.
In the efforts to save the Redwoods, naming after brave American soldiers was a way to honor those that had fallen.
2. Shrine Drive-Thru Tree
It might sound like a crazy concept to drive through a tree but you can do just that on your Avenue of the Giants drive!
This obviously wouldn’t be possible for the average tree but as giant Coastal Redwoods have an average trunk diameter up to 30 feet many small to medium sized cars can fit.
I have a medium sized SUV (Audi Q5) and I barely had any wiggle room to get through. It was a VERY tight fit and I put the side mirrors up.
If you aren’t sure, you can choose to park and then walk or bike through.
When you are driving through, make sure to look up through the hollow of the old redwood if you have a sunroof.
The Shrine Drive-Thru tree is estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,000 years old, which is incredible to imagine.
There are only a few drive thru redwood trees in California so if you are looking for a cool and unusual roadside attraction, don’t skip it.
It would be a tragedy if they had cut this tree just so cars could go through. Instead it is reported that the tree got hit with lightening which caused a fire to hollow it out.
After that, the owner made the natural hole wider to allow horse & buggy’s to go through and later automobiles.
After you exit the tree you can see some other carved attractions such as Tree House Village.
Cost: $15 per car
Hours: Sunrise to sunset and tends to close during the winter months.
3. Williams Grove
After squeezing through Shrine’s Drive-Thru tree you’ll come across Williams Grove about 1 mile north on the left hand side.
This is a stop that isn’t a must but if you are spending a day or two in the area I’d recommend stopping because it is a beautiful grove with picnic tables, perfect for a picnic lunch.
It’s also a great place if you are searching for an Avenue of the Giants hiking trail that is scenic and a bit challenging.
The 4.7-mile out and back trail does have a decent amount of incline and is a good workout to add to your itinerary.
Cost: $8.00 to park. If you are limited on time, I’d skip this stop.
4. Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitor Center
Making a stop at the visitor center is a great excuse for a bathroom break and a place to have a picnic if you packed a lunch.
There is no food or places to eat here, so pack snacks and/or a meal to enjoy on one of the picnic tables.
The Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitor Center has a tiny museum with a short film sharing information about the history, land, and famous giant redwood trees of the area.
Attached is a gift shop including maps and an opportunity to ask the state park staff any questions you have.
There are a few nature trails across the street from the visitor center if you want to stretch your legs.
If you are camping, the Burlington Campground is right next door to the visitor center and is a beautiful location to spend the night.
Cost: Free
Hours: Open May – September from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and from October – April from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
5. Weott High Water
About 1.5-miles north of the visitor center, there is a pole with a marker known as Weott High Water. It shows how high the water line got in the 1964 flood.
How high you say? It got up to 33 feet above street level!
This stop only takes a few minutes or a glance as you are driving by. But it is astonishing to see that the water could ever get that high.
There is a small sign that says, “High Water” and at the top of the pole is a marker for the 33 feet height.
6. Mahan Plaque Trail
The next stop along your Avenue of the Giants adventure brings you to Mahan Grove.
The grove of mighty California redwoods was named after Laura and James Mahan who were integral members of the Save-the-Redwoods League.
Without members like them, so many coastal redwood groves would have been demolished by logging so their efforts are priceless.
You could say the term “tree hugger” originated here. Laura Mahan chained herself to a redwood in defiance of the grove being logged in 1924.
Thankfully there are miles of majestic redwoods to see because they have been protected.
There is a gorgeous collection of towering redwoods to see as you hike the easy 1-mile loop of Mahan Plaque Trail.
7. Founders Grove & Dyerville Giant
Founders Grove is probably the most popular stop along the scenic Avenue of the Giants for its easy access from the road.
There is a 0.5-mile trail where you get to see a variety of Avenue of the Giants redwoods all enormous in their glory.
Most are still standing tall but there are fallen trees where you can see the enormous girth of the trunks.
After walking this trail, it will leave you speechless as you gaze in wonder at the size of these ancient trees.
On the trail, you’ll come upon a true giant of a tree known as Founders Tree rising 346-feet tall.
As your eyes span the tree from the base up to the top, your neck will definitely feel it as you try to capture the tree in its entirety.
You’ll also see Dyerville Giant which was 370-feet tall and sadly fell to the forest floor in 1991.
The coolest part is seeing the extensive and massive root system at its base!
Cost: Free
8. Tall Tree
After visiting Founders Grove, continue on Avenue of the Giants north for a few minutes and turn left onto Mattole Road.
The turn will be right after you cross the South Fork Eel River. Take Mattole Road for about 4.5 miles (~12 minutes).
You’ll turn left into a parking lot for Tall Tree also known as Rockefeller Tree reaching 366.5 feet.
You might be thinking why this tree is referred to as the Tall Tree when all of the trees here are tall?
Well, it was once considered the tallest tree in the world and although no longer the tallest, it’s still in the top 20 of giants.
After leaving your car, follow the Big Trees Trail and you’ll come across a sign and the colossal Tall Tree.
It is a lovely walk around the short Big Trees Trail loop with tons of big trees, fallen trees, and ferns that are an impressive sight.
Tip: Enter in Giant Tree Trail into your GPS and it will take you to the parking lot for Tall Tree and the next one on this list.
Cost: Parking is free
9. Giant Tree & Flatiron Tree
From the same parking lot where you access the trail to see Tall Tree is the same location to access the trail to Giant Tree and Flatiron Tree.
From the parking lot, head toward Bull Creek and cross the small footbridge.
If you are visiting during the winter months or after heavy rain, you won’t be able to cross the creek.
This is for safety reasons and because they remove the footbridge.
After crossing the footbridge, the trail veers left with a sign for both Giant Tree and Flatiron Tree 400 feet from the creek.
Giant Tree is the second tallest redwood tree in Humboldt Redwoods State Park at 363 feet.
Although Flatiron Tree has fallen, you can still grasp the magnitude of size this tree would’ve had when standing upright.
Cost: Parking is free
Avenue Of The Giants Lodging
You won’t find any big chain hotels anywhere near the Avenue of Giants but there are a number of small inns, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals.
I enjoyed staying in Miranda as they have a few good places to eat and I was minutes from the redwoods.
Tip: The Redwoods Palace in Miranda is a great place to get dinner.
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Camping Avenue Of The Giants
If you enjoy camping, any opportunity to camp under the enormous coastal redwoods is going to be a memorable stay.
The best campgrounds to stay a night or longer along Avenue of the Giants are:
Burlington Campground – right next to the visitor center
Albee Creek Campground – near Tall & Giant Tree off Mattole Road
Giant Redwoods RV & Cabins – in Myers Flat along the Eel River
Hidden Springs Campground – south of the visitor center near Myers Flat
Tip: If you are coming during the summer months I highly recommend making reservations well in advance.
Don’t have a camper or camping equipment? No problem!
Rent one of these cool camper vans that have everything you need to go camping in the redwoods.
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FAQ For Avenue of the Giants
The Avenue of the Giants Marathon is held May 4th, 2025 and is one of the most scenic marathons in the world.
Avenue of the Giants is located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It begins in the south about 2 miles south of Phillipsville and runs for 31 miles ending in the town of Pepperwood.
To see many of the top redwood groves you need a ½ to full day to experience it all. But if you spend two days this will allow for more hikes and additional stops.
To access the scenic Avenue of the Giants road you will take the 101 highway from the following towns.
Mendocino: From Mendocino, take the coastal Highway 1 north until it merges into the 101 Highway in Leggett. From there stay on the 101 Highway North until exit 645 in Phillipsville. ~ 2hrs with no stops.
San Francisco: From San Francisco, you can take the gorgeous coastal Highway 1 that will pass through Mendocino or take the 101 Highway straight the entire way until you reach exit 645. ~ 4 to 4.5 hrs
Eureka: If you are coming from the Oregon Coast or the town of Eureka, you’ll be coming from the north. Take the 101 Highway South until you reach the town of Pepperwood and take exit 674.
The best time to visit the redwood groves along Avenue of the Giants is from spring through fall (April – October).
Although you can visit during the winter months, do expect more fog, rain, and many of the campgrounds to be closed.
No, dogs are not allowed on any trails or redwood groves along Avenue of the Giants except for in parking lots, along the road, or in campsites.
There is a gas station in the town of Miranda but I would recommend getting gas before you enter Avenue of the Giants to be sure.
From the south, gas up in Fort Bragg, Willits, or Garberville. From the north fill up in Eureka.
Map Of Avenue Of The Giants
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Vanessa Shields
Vanessa Shields is the founder of Traveling Ness helping people with trip ideas, itineraries, travel planning, and boosting confidence for female travelers to take a solo trip. She has been a travel writer and content creator since 2019.