2027 Avenue of the Giants Marathon - May 2 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Avenue of the Giants Marathon and what time does it start?

The Avenue of the Giants Marathon is always held on the first Sunday in May, which puts the 2027 edition on Sunday, May 2, 2027 (the official date should be confirmed on theave.org). The full marathon starts at 7:45 a.m. Pacific Time at the underpass where Bull Creek Flats Road meets Highway 101 and the Avenue of the Giants, deep inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park near Weott, California.

Q: Where does the Avenue of the Giants course go?

It is a double out-and-back run entirely on paved park roads, sending runners out and back along Bull Creek Flats Road and the Avenue of the Giants scenic parkway. The route stays beneath 300-foot old-growth coast redwoods the whole way, through the heart of Humboldt Redwoods State Park — one of the largest stands of ancient redwoods on the planet. There is no city, no big crowd, just the quiet, cathedral-like forest, so come for the scenery rather than spectator energy.

Q: Is the Avenue of the Giants course flat or hilly?

It is mostly flat to gently rolling, not dead flat. The route has roughly +211 m (695 ft) of total climbing with almost identical descent, made up of short, fairly gentle rises and a few sharp curves rather than any big hill — so the net elevation change is close to zero. Combined with the shaded, cool redwood canopy it runs fast for a forest course, but the curves and gentle undulations reward steady, even pacing. Plan your splits with the pace calculator.

Q: Is the Avenue of the Giants Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is certified (course number CA-23014-TEB) and a Boston-qualifying race, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston Marathon entry. The shaded canopy and near-zero net elevation make it a genuine BQ option, and the small field means you will often be running your own pace rather than fighting traffic. Check your target on the Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: What is the time limit for the Avenue of the Giants Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit. There is also a halfway checkpoint: runners who do not reach the turnaround within 3 hours are directed to finish as a half marathon instead. That works out to roughly a 13:44 per mile (8:32 per km) pace to stay on the full course, so estimate your finish with the race time predictor before you commit.

Q: How do I register for the Avenue of the Giants Marathon?

Registration is handled online through RunSignup. Pricing is tiered and rises as race day nears — the full marathon is around $100 if you sign up by early January, climbing to roughly $120 and then $145 closer to the race. There is no lottery; entry is first-come, first-served, but because the park can only hold a limited field the marathon, half marathon and 10K can fill, so register early.

Q: How big is the Avenue of the Giants Marathon?

It is a small, remote destination marathon. The full marathon typically draws only a few hundred finishers — on the order of 400 to 500 most years — far smaller than a big-city race. That is part of the appeal: minimal crowding, an intimate start line and an uninterrupted run through ancient forest, but also limited spectator support and aid, so come self-reliant and treat it as a scenery-first experience.

Q: Where is the race and how do I get there?

The start is inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park near the tiny town of Weott in Northern California, off Highway 101 about an hour south of Eureka and roughly four to five hours' drive north of San Francisco. The nearest airports are California Redwood Coast - Humboldt County (ACV) and the larger hubs in San Francisco or Sacramento. It is genuinely remote, so book lodging in Weott, Myers Flat, Garberville or Eureka well ahead and plan to drive in.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Avenue of the Giants Marathon - May 2
City	Weott
Date	2027-05-02 at 07:45
Field Size	~400 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	America/Los_Angeles
Official Site	Avenue of the Giants Marathon

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	10.5°C / 51°F
Humidity	80%
Wind	10.8 km/h
Rain Chance	22%
Typical Conditions	Cool, damp, often misty early-May morning under the redwood canopy — temperatures around 49 degrees F (9 degrees C) at the 7:45 a.m. start, with high humidity and a real chance of light rain

What to Prepare: Early May on the Avenue is cool and frequently damp, around 49 degrees F (9 degrees C) at the start and rarely much above the mid-50s F (13 degrees C). The redwood canopy keeps the course shaded and the air moist, so the sun never bakes you, but light rain or drizzle is common — pack a throwaway top and a brimmed cap, and expect cool, soft footing on shaded pavement. It is forgiving racing weather for a spring marathon, but dress for the coast, not for inland California heat.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 10.8 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	6.6°C	10.3°C	14.7°C
Dew point	3.1°C	6.8°C	9.9°C

Wet-day chance: 22% Runnability: 78/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Out-and-back
Elevation Gain	211m
Terrain	Road (paved park roads through redwood forest, mostly flat to gently rolling with sharp curves)
Profile	A double out-and-back run entirely on paved park roads through the heart of Humboldt Redwoods State Park, among some of the tallest living things on earth. The course starts at the underpass where Bull Creek Flats Road meets Highway 101 and the Avenue of the Giants, then sends runners out and back along Bull Creek Flats Road and the Avenue of the Giants scenic parkway, threading beneath 300-foot old-growth coast redwoods the entire way. It is best described as mostly flat to gently rolling rather than pancake-flat — about +211 m (695 ft) of total gain spread across short, fairly gentle rises with a handful of sharp curves, and almost identical descent, so the net elevation change is close to zero. The redwood canopy shades nearly the whole route and the cool, humid coastal air keeps overheating at bay. It is a USATF-certified course and a Boston qualifier, but the draw here is the cathedral-like old-growth forest, not crowd support or a fast big-city field — it is a small, remote, scenery-first marathon (the full typically draws a few hundred finishers) where the destination is the reward.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Avenue of the Giants Marathon - May 2

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Avenue of the Giants Marathon and what time does it start?

The Avenue of the Giants Marathon is always held on the first Sunday in May, which puts the 2027 edition on Sunday, May 2, 2027 (the official date should be confirmed on theave.org). The full marathon starts at 7:45 a.m. Pacific Time at the underpass where Bull Creek Flats Road meets Highway 101 and the Avenue of the Giants, deep inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park near Weott, California.

Where does the Avenue of the Giants course go?

It is a double out-and-back run entirely on paved park roads, sending runners out and back along Bull Creek Flats Road and the Avenue of the Giants scenic parkway. The route stays beneath 300-foot old-growth coast redwoods the whole way, through the heart of Humboldt Redwoods State Park — one of the largest stands of ancient redwoods on the planet. There is no city, no big crowd, just the quiet, cathedral-like forest, so come for the scenery rather than spectator energy.

Is the Avenue of the Giants course flat or hilly?

It is mostly flat to gently rolling, not dead flat. The route has roughly +211 m (695 ft) of total climbing with almost identical descent, made up of short, fairly gentle rises and a few sharp curves rather than any big hill — so the net elevation change is close to zero. Combined with the shaded, cool redwood canopy it runs fast for a forest course, but the curves and gentle undulations reward steady, even pacing. Plan your splits with the pace calculator.

Is the Avenue of the Giants Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is certified (course number CA-23014-TEB) and a Boston-qualifying race, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston Marathon entry. The shaded canopy and near-zero net elevation make it a genuine BQ option, and the small field means you will often be running your own pace rather than fighting traffic. Check your target on the Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the time limit for the Avenue of the Giants Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit. There is also a halfway checkpoint: runners who do not reach the turnaround within 3 hours are directed to finish as a half marathon instead. That works out to roughly a 13:44 per mile (8:32 per km) pace to stay on the full course, so estimate your finish with the race time predictor before you commit.

How do I register for the Avenue of the Giants Marathon?

Registration is handled online through RunSignup. Pricing is tiered and rises as race day nears — the full marathon is around $100 if you sign up by early January, climbing to roughly $120 and then $145 closer to the race. There is no lottery; entry is first-come, first-served, but because the park can only hold a limited field the marathon, half marathon and 10K can fill, so register early.

How big is the Avenue of the Giants Marathon?

It is a small, remote destination marathon. The full marathon typically draws only a few hundred finishers — on the order of 400 to 500 most years — far smaller than a big-city race. That is part of the appeal: minimal crowding, an intimate start line and an uninterrupted run through ancient forest, but also limited spectator support and aid, so come self-reliant and treat it as a scenery-first experience.

Where is the race and how do I get there?

The start is inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park near the tiny town of Weott in Northern California, off Highway 101 about an hour south of Eureka and roughly four to five hours' drive north of San Francisco. The nearest airports are California Redwood Coast - Humboldt County (ACV) and the larger hubs in San Francisco or Sacramento. It is genuinely remote, so book lodging in Weott, Myers Flat, Garberville or Eureka well ahead and plan to drive in.