Northern California above San Francisco is a different world. The redwood forests of Humboldt and Mendocino counties contain the tallest trees on Earth, and the roads that wind through them are among the most atmospheric driving experiences in America.
This route pack begins on the Mendocino coast and climbs inland through the Anderson Valley wine region before entering the redwood country. The Avenue of the Giants. a 31-mile alternate route through old-growth groves. is the centerpiece, but the connecting roads through the Mattole Valley and along the Lost Coast are equally rewarding.
The pace here is different. The light filters through cathedral canopies, the road surface is dappled with shadows, and the air smells of ancient wood and ocean fog. This is driving as meditation.