When you think of lighthouses, most likely, the first place that comes to mind is the beautiful coast of New England. The lighthouses on the West Coast may not be as famous, but they are certainly just as fascinating. In particular, they can be an excellent opportunity to discover an interesting part of local history and enjoy beautiful views of the ocean and its sunsets.
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Lighthouses in California: Where Are They? Why Visit Them?
Most of the lighthouses are easy to visit and can be nice places stop to rest for a while during your road trip in California. You can enjoy spectacular sunsets over the ocean in lighthouses near cities, especially if you have the opportunity to stay overnight in the area (in some cases, the premises around lighthouses have been converted into hotels or hostels).
Obviously, I could not include all the lighthouses along the California coast in this article, but I will point out those that can be considered to be the most representative that are also the most accessible.
For the sake of clarity, I will describe the lighthouses in order from south to north.
Southern California lighthouses
This section includes the lighthouses of the southern California coast from San Diego County to Santa Cruz.
Old Point Loma Lighthouse – San Diego
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse closely resembles other lighthouses you will encounter along the coast, for example, the Point Pinos Lighthouse in Monterey. In fact, these two lighthouses were both built in 1855. Unfortunately, the choice of location to build the lighthouse was not the most fortunate.
Although it was built almost 430 ft above sea level, the visibility was still poor. Most days, the light emitted by the lighthouse was shrouded by dense fog and clouds at low altitudes that are characteristic of this area. This problem proved to be so serious that by 1891 it became necessary to build another lighthouse further downhill.
Our tips on where to stay in San Diego
Point Fermin Lighthouse – San Pedro
This is definitely one of the most original lighthouses in California. It is very similar to the lighthouses in Point Loma and Point Pinos. The characteristic that the three lighthouses have in common is that the actual lighthouse rises above the lighthouse keeper’s quarters, however, the Point Fermin Lighthouse column is square rather than circular in shape, as one would expect.
This was the first lighthouse in the San Pedro Bay. It was built in 1847 in the so-called Stick Style, which involved the use of numerous wooden decorations both in the façade and in the interior of the building.
Our tips on where to stay in Los Angeles
Point Sur Lighthouse – Big Sur
This is one of the most important stops along the spectacular Pacific Coast Highway. In fact, this lighthouse is one of the most popular destinations on this scenic road that runs along much of the California coast.
One of the things that make this lighthouse unique is that it was built on a volcanic rock that rises more than 330 ft above sea level and overlooks the entire area below. As you can easily imagine, you can admire splendid views not only of the ocean but also of the coast.
Nearby you can also visit what was once a U.S. Navy Base that was in operation during the Cold War and the main task at the time was to locate Soviet submarines off the California coast. Today you can go on tours of the base (tickets are $15) on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 am, on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. Tours last about one hour and a half. More info here.
Point Pinos Lighthouse – Pacific Grove
Point Pinos Lighthouse was built in 1855 and is still active today, making it the oldest lighthouse in use on the West Coast. Another thing that makes Point Pinos Lighthouse stand out is that it was built inland rather than directly on the coast.
After 1975, the lighthouse became fully automated and the rooms that were once used as the lighthouse keeper’s quarters house a museum. Today it is considered one of the symbolic places of Pacific Grove and it is regarded as one of the best spots in the area to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Accommodations in Pacific Grove
Lighthouse Field State Beach – Santa Cruz
Inside the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, you will find one of the first museums entirely dedicated to surfing, covering over 100 years of surfing history in the city of Santa Cruz. In the park, there is also Steamer Lane, one of the most popular beaches among surfers and those who want to enjoy relaxing on the beach.
Our tips on where to stay in Santa Cruz
Northern California lighthouses
This section includes the lighthouses of the Northern California coast from Pescadero to the Oregon border.
Pigeon Point Light Station – Pescadero
Pigeon Point Light Station, one of the tallest lighthouses on the West Coast, dates back to 1872 and is still in operation today, although now it is fully automated. Because the lighthouse tower is undergoing renovations, it is not open to visitors, but it is still possible to access the surrounding area.
In any case, it is worth visiting Pescadero also because of the beautiful beaches in the immediate vicinity of the lighthouse.
Search for accommodations at Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel
Point Montara Light Station – Montara
What distinguishes the Point Montara Light Station from other lighthouses is its tower that stands separately from the home of the lighthouse-keeper, unlike most of the lighthouses described so far.
This lighthouse has a very fascinating history; in fact, it is the only one in America to have performed its function on both the West Coast and the East Coast. How was this possible? Originally the lighthouse was built on Cape Cod in Massachusetts where it was active for almost 50 years before being decommissioned in 1925.
Everyone thought that the remains of the lighthouse had been destroyed until some scholars discovered that the lighthouse had actually been transported (it is not yet known how) to the California coast and rebuilt in 1928.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to climb up the lighthouse on your own or on tours and you can only visit the area around the lighthouse, which today is part of a hostel. Before you go to the area around the lighthouse, you must first sign up at the hostel.
Accommodations at Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel
Point Bonita Lighthouse – Marin
This lighthouse is located in one of the most fascinating and scenic locations in the whole state. Given the importance and beauty of the place, we have written an in-depth guide about this very lighthouse and the Marin Headlands. In this guide, you will find all the necessary tips and directions to reach the area.
You can read our advice in the article Point Bonita Lighthouse and Marin Headlands.
Point Reyes Lighthouse – Point Reyes
Although Point Reyes Lighthouse is neither the most beautiful nor the most characteristic one among the lighthouses discussed thus far, it is worth taking some time to visit the area where it was built.
It is located on a cliff near the ocean within the Point Reyes National Seashore managed by the National Park Service. To reach the lighthouse, you must follow a trail that starts from the Point Reyes Lighthouse Visitor Center. On this trail, you will have to walk down (and then climb back up) as many as 313 steps.
Since the area is very windy (in some cases the wind speed can exceed 35 mph), the last part of the path could be closed for safety reasons. Therefore, I encourage you to consult the official website so as not to find any nasty surprises when you arrive.
Point Arena Lighthouse and Museum
This lighthouse is located in Northern California on Point Arena. At certain times of the year, you may be able to see whales in the distance (by the way, if you are interested in whale watching, you can consult our article dedicated to whale watching in California).
Grey whales can be sighted from late November to May, while humpback whales can be seen throughout most of the year. The museum on the premises of Point Arena Lighthouse retraces the history of this lighthouse and the surrounding area.
Accommodations at Point Arena Lighthouse
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse – Mendocino
This characteristic lighthouse is located in Northern California. You can visit the rooms on the ground floor where there is a museum that houses a section on the history of Point Cabrillo as well as the structure. You cannot climb to the actual lighthouse except on special occasions during the year, which are posted on the official website.
Our tips on where to stay in Mendocino
Battery Point Lighthouse – Crescent City
Battery Point Lighthouse is located close to the border between California and Oregon. This lighthouse is in fact a house with a small lighthouse on the roof (compared to the ones we have seen so far), but what also makes it different is its position. It was in fact built on a small island that can only be reached on foot during low tide.
Battery Point Lighthouse also has the reputation of being haunted. It is said that during storms you can hear footsteps going up the stairs of the lighthouse and, sometimes, an old rocking chair seems to move inexplicably by itself.
Accommodations in Crescent City
If your road trip itinerary continues north, you can take a look at these two guides for visiting the Oregon coastline: