Avenue of the Giants Marathon

The Avenue of the Giants Marathon is a USATF-certified, Boston Qualifying event held in Northern California's Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The course is mostly flat to rolling, winding through a dense forest setting. It provides a unique running environment with minimal distractions, but runners should note that the dense tree canopy can occasionally block GPS signals on running watches. It is ideal race to utilize a Pace Band due to the lack of GPS coverage.

The course is a double out-and-back route entirely on paved roads. Lined with old-growth redwood trees reaching 300 feet tall, the route is heavily shaded, keeping temperatures cool for runners throughout the morning.

The race begins just beyond the Dyerville Bridge on Bull Creek Road. The first mile is relatively flat, quickly guiding runners under the redwood canopy. After the opening mile, the terrain introduces sharp curves and fairly short hills. Between miles four and five, the route opens up slightly past the Albee Creek Campground before reaching the first turnaround at mile 6.5, where runners retrace their steps back toward the start. The second out-and-back portion is also mostly shaded but features a few distinct elevation changes. Runners will encounter a significant hill passing through Weott just past the 15-mile mark (and again on the return near mile 23).

This course is well-suited for runners seeking a scenic destination race. Because the dense redwood canopy blocks the sun and traps cool air, pacing strategies are less likely to be disrupted by mid-morning/early-afternoon heat. The double out-and-back design requires mental discipline, as runners pass close to the staging area midway through the race before heading out for the second loop.