Last week, Governor Newsom announced “State Parks Forward,” a significant expansion of California State Parks, which involves adding three new park units and thousands of acres of new land.
Here in the Bay Area, one of the biggest expansions is going down at Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, about 50 miles south of San Francisco. The park is home to a historic lighthouse dating back to 1872, perched above a rugged coastline with accessible tide pools and whale watching spots.
The new expansion will add 133 acres of nearby blufftop land.
Here’s a closer look…
133 new blufftop acres
The 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast, currently nearing the end of a $16 million renovation project. Now, visitors can see the impressive structure from Cloverdale Bluffs, donated by the Peninsula Open Space Trust.
The new land adds 133 coastal acres, effectively tripling the footprint of Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. As a result, California State Parks can preserve the natural coastline, and the California Coastal Trail can add another 1.5 miles to its route.
“POST is proud to be a part of State Parks Forward,” said Gordon Clark, president of Peninsula Open Space Trust, in a press release. “We’re excited to once again work closely with State Parks to make more lands accessible to Californians for generations to come. This type of partnership between public agencies and private organizations is vital to maintaining our beautiful, productive and essential open spaces.”
More about Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
It takes just over an hour to drive down to Pigeon Point from San Francisco. When the lighthouse reopens in the spring of 2027, visitors can once again explore the Fog Signal Building and check out the original 16-foot-tall Fresnel lens.
The coastline here is a popular spot for tide pooling, and you can watch for seals, sea lions, and migrating gray whales from the bluffs. Some guests even opt to stay overnight in the Pigeon Point Hostel.
🌐 Website: Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
🕜 Day-use hours: 8am to sunset
ℹ️ Visitor Center hours: 10am-4pm Thursday to Tuesday
