Fairytale Forests and Western Movies

We take a two to three-week trip each summer and schedule out the ride, the recreational stops, and the overnight stays. We generally have a one to two-day cushion for unpredictable weather. After last summer’s gas mishaps (shared in my article "Fuel’s Folly"), we are now very cognizant of fuel stops too. Time is always a factor when riding, but I would rather allot more time than give up a must-do ride or recreational stop.

In the summer of 2024, we were on a 17-day trip that included numerous national parks, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), the Million Dollar Highway, and more. As we were traveling the PCH from the south to the north, we rode through the Avenue of the Giants before the Redwood National Forest.

Avenue of the Giants is a spectacular 31-mile scenic ride among giant (thus the name) coastal redwoods. The road began as a logging and stagecoach route in the 1880s, was paved in the early 20th century, and became a bypass of US Highway 101 in the 1960s.

This is one of those "take the bypass" roads. The ride is majestic and surreal. I have to admit, fairytale and The Walking Dead images came to mind, but let's stick with fairytale. There are numerous pull-offs and absolutely no pressure (hardly any other vehicles) along the ride. It is amazingly quiet...just you and the trees. Honestly, we preferred Avenue of the Giants over Redwood National Forest, mostly due to the fact we could get up close and personal with the trees, versus just riding through. I purchased a really cool Star Wars T-Shirt for my son at the Redwood National Forest Visitor Center (even though the speeder bike chase in Return of the Jedi was filmed in the Avenue of the Giants). Honestly, one can't go wrong with either site; both have ginormous (yes, it is a real word) redwoods!

In 2022, we did an eight-day ride with another couple that included the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, the Petrified Forest, and more. On our way back to Texas, our route included a quick trip to the Gilman Tunnels in New Mexico.

The Gilman Tunnels were cut through solid granite in the 1920s for the purpose of transporting logs. While no longer utilized for that purpose, it is worth the ride and time. Be mindful of accessibility as it was most recently closed from October 2024 to May 2025 for a rock stabilization project. When we were there in 2022, there were several large rocks in the road and very evident guardrail damage. We encountered no other riders and only one car on the road. At one point, we were unsure if we were on the right road. Signage isn’t great and there are no amenities—just a road, two tunnels, a waterfall, and the Guadalupe River running alongside the road.

The road to and through the tunnels is one lane. The south tunnel is about 100 feet long, and the north tunnel is 125 feet long. Fun fact: Hollywood used the Gilman Tunnels in the filming of 3:10 to Yuma (2007), The Lone Ranger (2013), and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015). There is no doubt the area looks like it was plucked right out of a western movie scene.

The Gilman Tunnels were almost skipped on our trip due to time, but it was time well spent. Avenue of the Giants was a must-do on our list, and it absolutely did not disappoint. I am happy with my pictures from Avenue of the Giants, but we will return to the Gilman Tunnels to get a pic of both tunnels and the bike...my skills have improved since 2022. We didn't do the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree in Avenue of the Giants, so we probably have to go back there as well...mistakes were made.

This summer (2025) we are headed to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Devils Tower, and more. If you have been to those areas, what is a don't-miss for us to place on our list? Please share in the comments.

The Blonde Backpack