Redcrest and the Avenue of the Giants

The Avenue of the Giants is central to getting your bearings in Redcrest: an exit near Redcrest leads to this route. If you choose the area as a destination, different points of interest can help you plan. You can focus on the route itself, a hiking trail, or a single Redwood attraction. The Avenue does not combine every experience into one kind of visit: the route, trails, river access points, and stories of individual trees each offer a distinct way to experience the landscape.

The Avenue of the Giants as a route

The Avenue of the Giants is a 31-mile stretch of historic Highway 101. It runs parallel to present-day Highway 101 and the Eel River; Humboldt Redwoods State Park surrounds the Avenue. The route is passable for most vehicles. Its length makes it a distinct part of trip planning, not just a single viewpoint. At the same time, it is worth distinguishing the route from the individual trails and groves accessible from it.

The combination of the road and the landscape can be understood through two parallel landmarks: the Avenue traces the route, while the Eel River runs alongside it for the same distance. The road is therefore a focus in its own right, while trails and memorial groves offer additional options. The Avenue provides access to many such trails and groves. So, if you are weighing different interests, you can consider the longer route and individual destinations separately.

Trails and individual destinations

At the Dyerville Giant, the focus is a fallen Redwood. Visitors can walk along its entire length. The tree once stood 362 feet tall and fell in 1991; the height refers to its former size. A visit combines a walk along the fallen trunk with a specific natural event. This is different from a trail where trail conditions or facilities are the main considerations for getting around.

Practical details are available for the Founder's Grove trail: it is level and ADA-accessible. Restrooms are in the parking lot at Founder's Grove. These details make it possible to assess this trail based on specific features without equating it with a visit to the Dyerville Giant. If you are primarily looking for a trail with clearly described accessibility features, Founder's Grove offers that kind of guidance; at the Dyerville Giant, the length of the fallen tree is the main attraction.

Redwoods and their stories

The Immortal Tree is a 1,000-year-old coast redwood in Redcrest, just off Highway 101. Its story includes several events it survived: lightning strikes, forest fires, the blow of a logger's axe, and the Flood of 1964. Together with the Dyerville Giant, it represents two different chapters in natural history. The Dyerville Giant is defined by its fall in 1991; the Immortal Tree's story is about surviving the events listed above.

Another object connected with Redwood history is the Hollow Log Truck. It consists of an old Redwood trunk mounted on the bed of an open 1945 White fire truck. The truck is on display from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This timeframe is relevant when planning your trip: if you would like to see the display, check before your trip whether it will be on during your planned visit.

River access and different interests

The Avenue of the Giants offers several access points to the Eel River where fishing and swimming are possible. This adds another focus alongside the drive and the trails. Information about river access applies to specific access points; it does not describe every section of the river in general. Those interested in the area can distinguish between the route, a trail or grove, Redwood stories, and activities on the water. These different focuses give you an objective basis for deciding how Redcrest and the Avenue of the Giants fit your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Fortuna, Redway, Trinidad, Loleta, Garberville, Arcata, Orick, Eureka

For the broader travel overview: Humboldt.