1st Sunday in May, Humbolt Redwoods State Park, CA, 9:00 AM Start.
Beautiful course runs through ancient redwood forests on mostly flat, gently rolling paved roads.

Info click on Avenue above to register on line.

Julie Millers report on The Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon - May 4, 2003:

This is one the creme de la creme of scenic races. The race starts near Weott, by the Dyerville Bridge in the Redwood State park. Both the half and the full start at 9 a.m., but there's an early bird 8 a.m. start for marathoners over 6 hours. Relatively flat course, with a few rolling hills, which should make for a fast time for most runners. The weather was cool and misty, and rained a little, but the giant redwoods form a canopy that shades and protects runners from the rain and wind. Some of the tallest trees in the world live here, and the course passes by wildflowers, including natural irises, huge ferns and waterfalls. The first half of the marathon (and the half marathon) goes out and back on Bull Creek Road, through the Rockerfeller Grove, and some of the worlds tallest trees. The second half goes out and back on the Avenue of the Giants (the old 101 highway). One of the unique features of this race is that there is always terrific tee-shirt, with a new design each year. You get a great medal too. This years tee shirt and medal featured a fox running through the forest.

I stayed at the Best Western Garberville - Phone no. 1-707-923-2771. Imagine everything you could want in a race hotel, and you've got it there. Wine and cheese in the evening, breakfast bar in the morning (all complimentary), laundry facilities, spa, pasta places nearby, and they even hold rooms open for runners after the race to take showers.