Avenue of the Giants, Northern CA

The Avenue of the Giants is a place you simply have to ride through.

No doors. No roof. No windows. Just you, the motorcycle, and the hum of the engine beneath you.

Highway 254 is a mere 32 miles in length, and while it parallels the 101 freeway, this road was designed for the soul of a motorcyclist. Ride it at an off-time—first light on a Sunday morning—and you’ll have the entire forest all to yourself.

As you roll through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, the scale of the forest defies comprehension. More than 100 of the 137 tallest trees in the world—all over 350 feet—are concentrated right here. These sentinels create an emerald-green tunnel where the canopy is so dense it can block out the sun. You’ll find yourself popping in and out of legendary spots like the Franklin K. Lane or Founders Grove, with dozens of smaller, quiet stands tucked along the route to explore. Get off the bike at a pullout and just walk into the forest.

Where Highway 254 crosses the Eel River, look for the markers from the 1964 flood. High-water signs along the road show the levels the river reached, with marks still visible on the redwood trunks ten feet above the pavement.

The route offers several small towns for snacks and fuel, along with numerous riverside campgrounds. Further north, the kitschy charm of the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree in Myers Flat provides the classic California photo op. Whether you’re leaning into the meandering, smooth curves or pulling over to press your nose against the ancient, cinnamon-colored bark, the Avenue is a sensory explosion. It isn’t just a road; it’s a living organism of massive roots and towering height that can only truly be experienced on two wheels.

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