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Avenue of the Giants Goes Gigantic

Humboldt Redwoods SP, Avenue of the Giants (11/2/15) Max Forster

Humboldt Redwoods SP, Avenue of the Giants (11/2/15) Max Forster

Max Forster seems to find the unlikely places for fall color, and that’s why we so like his contributions.

Last autumn, he photographed Death Valley.  This November, it’s the Avenue of the Giants (US 101) in Humboldt County.

Turkeys, Humboldt Redwood SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Turkeys, Humboldt Redwood SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

He even sends a shot of five turkeys evading being Thanksgiving Dinner by trotting into Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

Bigleaf maple, Prairie Creek Trail (11/2/15) Max Forster

Bigleaf maple, Prairie Creek Trail (11/2/15) Max Forster

Poison oak, Mattole Rd, Humboldt Redwood SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Poison oak, Mattole Rd, Humboldt Redwood SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Drury Pkwy, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Drury Pkwy, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Drury Pkwy, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Drury Pkwy, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Drury Pkwy, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Drury Pkwy, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Drury Pkwy, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Drury Pkwy, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP (11/2/15) Max Forster

Redwood National Park (11/2/15) Max Forster

Redwood National Park (11/2/15) Max Forster

While this doesn’t qualify as a First Report – since we’ve published photos and reports of this route previously – it’s pretty dang close, as Max’s photos are the best we’ve seen of The Redwood Highway.

In them, we see the redwood forest at peak with bigleaf maple all golden and the toxic tentacles of rosy poison oak climbing toward sunlight.

He also suggests these routes:

“Humboldt Redwoods State Park – The best maples can be seen along the Avenue of Giants and along Highway 101 when you can catch views of the Eel River.  Poison oak creeping up the redwoods can be seen along the Avenue of Giants and Mattole Road.  

“Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park – Maple lining Prairie Creek can be seen along Drury Parkway but a better option would be to hike the entire Prairie Creek Trail.  As a native New Englander there’s something particularly satisfying about kicking up leaves while hiking through the forest.  The Prairie Creek Trail currently scratches that nostalgia itch.

“Redwood National Park – Maple lining Lost Man Creek near Highway 101 are at peak.  It’s a pleasant short drive along the road lining the creek with a couple of well placed pullouts.  You can continue hiking up Lost Man Creek Trail to find more goodies.  I also hiked Redwood Creek this weekend and there are tiny shows appearing amongst the evergreen.  The recent rain storm missed northern Humboldt.  Redwood Creek continues to be unseasonably low and can easily be forded and hiked.  The maple at the northern section of the Tall Trees Grove are impressively large and currently at peak.

In particular, it’s nice to see the Avenue of the Giants going gigantic.

Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Avenue of the Giants

 

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