The Point Reyes Lighthouse is a historic 19th-century lighthouse perched on the westernmost tip of the Marin Headlands. For over a century, this location has been an essential point for navigation signals in one of the foggiest and windiest locations in North America.
These days, the lighthouse has been decommissioned and replaced, but you can still visit the historic building and visitor center. Not only is it a prime whale-watching spot, but it’s also fairly easy to reach via a 0.4-mile trail and staircase.
Keep reading to learn about this iconic NorCal landmark.
History of Point Reyes Lighthouse
Point Reyes Lighthouse was first lit on Dec. 1, 1870, after decades of shipwrecks had piled up on the foggy, exposed point. A first-order Fresnel lens and other materials were shipped around Cape Horn to San Francisco, and the light was assembled on a ledge below the clifftop.
Keepers lived on site for over a century, tending to the oil lamp and running the fog signals. The station withstood major events over the decades, including the 1906 earthquake, and was eventually modernized with electricity in the 1930s.
In 1975, the original tower was replaced with a lighted beacon nearby, and the lighthouse came under the ownership of the National Park Service, which now preserves it as a museum.
Visiting the lighthouse
While the new beacon light continues to operate as the official navigational light on Point Reyes, visitors can still see the original tower and museum, which features the classic Fresnel lens and clockwork mechanism.
You can reach the lighthouse by parking at the end of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and walking about 0.4 miles uphill to the Lighthouse Visitor Center, which has interpretive exhibits and a viewpoint for great whale-watching.
Then, descend 313 concrete steps to the lighthouse itself. Even though it’s a short walk, it’s a steep one, so don’t underestimate it!
The visitor center and lighthouse run on limited hours and close under windy conditions, so make sure you check the current hours before you hit the road. It takes about 2 hours to make the drive from San Francisco.
🌐 Learn more: National Park Service – Point Reyes Lighthouse