New Point Loma Lighthouse
I can't believe I was willing to skip seeing new Point Loma Lighthouse. It is at the bottom of the huge rocky hill, below the old Point Loma Lighthouse.
Access is possible by crossing into Cabrillo National Park. It is visible from the vista point atop the hill as well.
Access is possible by crossing into Cabrillo National Park. It is visible from the vista point atop the hill as well.
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Date Visited: February 13, 2010
Old Point Loma Lighthouse
I was also willing to skip seeing old Point Loma Lighthouse. It is atop a huge rocky hill overlooking the ocean just west of San Diego.
Access is possible by crossing into Cabrillo National Park.
Access is possible by crossing into Cabrillo National Park.
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Date Visited: February 13, 2010
Cape Blanco Lighthouse
Cape Blanco lighthouse is at the Southern part of the Oregon coast. We were able to get into this lighthouse. It was really foggy when we got there, coupled with the rugged islets in the area, made for a really nice visit. It is the southernmost lighthouse in Oregon.
Date Visited: July 4, 2009
Coquille River Lighthouse
I hadn't planned on seeing Coquille River Lighthouse, as it sits at the edge of the harbor, with an uninspiring background. We happened to be driving in Bandon Oregon, and pulled off at Beach Loop Drive to see Face Rock and other nice rugged rocks. This lighthouse appeared unexpectedly, so we took a picture.
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Date Visited: July 4, 2009
Cape Arago Lighthouse
Cape Arago Lighthouse cannot be reached directly. Instead, we drove through Sunset Bay State Park and were able to get a good look a it from a view point. It took a good half hour going West from Hwy 101 to get there. From a distance it looked quite nice and rugged.
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Date Visited: July 4, 2009
Heceta Head Lighthouse
Heceta Head Lighthouse is gorgeous! I believe Point Conception and Heceta Head lighthouses are in a league of their own. The lighthouse is roughly at the central Oregon Coast, near the city of Florence. It is perched along a beautiful rugged cliff, just at the end of a deceptively serene looking cove.
Date Visited: July 3, 2009
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Yaquina Head Lighthouse is at the western edge of Yaquina Head National Park. The lighthouse appeared fairly isolated and was quite tall. The surroundings were very nice and there were some hiking trails to get different views of the lighthouse.
Date Visited: July 3, 2009
Cape Meares Lighthouse
Cape Meares is in the Northern Oregon Coast. It is a good 10 miles of fairly slow road to the west of Hwy 101 around Tillamook. It was also the first Oregon lighthouse I saw on my Oregon trip.
The surroundings near the lighthouse are very nice. In particular, there were lots of rugged rocks to the north and south of the lighthouse. We were able to get into the lens room and see the unique and atypical red light the lighthouse can emit.
The surroundings near the lighthouse are very nice. In particular, there were lots of rugged rocks to the north and south of the lighthouse. We were able to get into the lens room and see the unique and atypical red light the lighthouse can emit.
Date Visited: July 3, 2009
Point Conception Lighthouse
Point Conception is located at the far end of a private Cojo Ranch, west of Santa Barbara. I spent months contacting the Coast Guard and ranch owners to get permission to be escorted by the Coast Guard over there.
I got there by taking Hwy 101 South for over 200 miles, then cut west to Lompoc and spent some time on Hwy 1 South. Ultimately, I had to take Jalama Road and Jalama Beach Road to get close enough to the private gate where I met the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, I did not see a way to get a glimpse of the lighthouse without somehow entering the ranch.
It was the most beautiful of all the lighthouses I've seen so far. I loved the rocks in the area, the variety of different, unusual terrains, and it's total isolation.
I got there by taking Hwy 101 South for over 200 miles, then cut west to Lompoc and spent some time on Hwy 1 South. Ultimately, I had to take Jalama Road and Jalama Beach Road to get close enough to the private gate where I met the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, I did not see a way to get a glimpse of the lighthouse without somehow entering the ranch.
It was the most beautiful of all the lighthouses I've seen so far. I loved the rocks in the area, the variety of different, unusual terrains, and it's total isolation.
Date Visited: January 23, 2008
Point Vicente Lighthouse
Point Vicente Lighthouse can only be visited the 2nd Saturday of every month. Typically a stikler for driving or walking to lighthouse destinations, I actually reached this one by flying into LA. I reached it by driving from LAX by car on Sepulveda Blvd which became Highway 1 south.
It is a nice area with palm trees and a SoCal feel: sunny, warm, with beaches nearby. Visiting the lighthouse just requires crossing the gate, though may be seen even if not on the 2nd Saturday of the month from the surrounding area.
It is a nice area with palm trees and a SoCal feel: sunny, warm, with beaches nearby. Visiting the lighthouse just requires crossing the gate, though may be seen even if not on the 2nd Saturday of the month from the surrounding area.
Date Visited: November 10, 2007
Port San Luis Lighthouse
Port San Luis Obispo Lighthouse trips are possible only through PG&E organized hikes. There is a power-plant in the same general vicinity as the lighthouse and therefore access is limited. Despite the difficulty of getting here, this lighthouse is definitely worth the trip. We drove about 3 hours south, all on highway 101 to get there, just off Avila Beach.
It was just under an hour walk in each direction and led by two docents. The lighthouse has undergone a lot of work and is in good condition now.
It was just under an hour walk in each direction and led by two docents. The lighthouse has undergone a lot of work and is in good condition now.
Date Visited: November 3, 2007
Punta Gorda Lighthouse
Punta Gorda was by far the most difficult lighthouse to reach and also the most desolate and abandoned of all the lighthouses. It is roughly 11 miles south of Cape Mendocino and requires driving South on Mattole Road, well past the Cape. Turning right onto Lighthouse Road- at the Southern side of the Honeydew loop drive around the Lost Coast- there were two ways to get to this destination, neither of which was particularly easy on the body.
A round-trip hike of about 6 to 7 tough miles was necessary for this Lighthouse. When I got there, I realized just how remote the lighthouse was. It was fairly well preserved in the sense of overall structure, but no longer has its lense and has been de-commissioned.
A round-trip hike of about 6 to 7 tough miles was necessary for this Lighthouse. When I got there, I realized just how remote the lighthouse was. It was fairly well preserved in the sense of overall structure, but no longer has its lense and has been de-commissioned.
Date Visited: October 6, 2007
Point Pinos Lighthouse
I had initially not planned on visiting Point Pinos lighthouse on my lighthouse tours. For some reason I did not think that it was in a nice enough area nor around terribly great terrain, so I wrote it off. As I am nearing the end of the lighthouses to visit here in California, I figured I'd go and see it for the sake of completeness. When I got there in the early afternoon today—driving on 1 South all the way to the southern tip of the Monterey Peninsula in Pacific Grove—I realized how beautiful a lighthouse it is. It is the oldest operating lighthouse in the state, since 1855. The lighthouse itself is a bit more inland than most others, but the surrounding rocks and ocean were quite impressive. So was the structure itself, which was in great condition.
Date Visited: September 23, 2007
Piedras Blancas Lighthouse
Piedras Blancas Lighthouse got its name from the white rocks around it. These white rocks formed from birds' droppings. We drove down Highway 1 South, well past Point Sur which we saw along the way from the road to get there. The lighthouse was near Hearst Castle which was where our lighthouse tour began.
Date Visited: September 15, 2007
Point Arena Lighthouse
Point Arena is the tallest lighthouse in California and one of the tallest in the Pacific coastline. We got there by taking Highway 1 South from Mendocino for around an hour. We were able to climb to the top of this 115 foot structure, but during the few minutes it took us to climb to the top, the weather completely changed and it was entirely foggy when we reached the top. We were still able to appreciate the scenery.
Date Visited: July 7, 2007
Cape Mendocino Lighthouse
At Shelter Cove we saw the restored Cape Mendocino Lighthouse. We got to Shelter Cove through 101 to Garberville, followed by Briceland Road headed West. I appreciated the restoration and understood that had the lighthouse remained at the Cape it probably would have been destroyed. Though I couldn't help but feel regret at the fact that I hadn't seen it in its original home. The lighthouse, now in a park in Shelter Cove, has been decommissioned.
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Date Visited: July 6, 2007
Trinidad Bay Memorial Lighthouse and Trinidad Head Lighthouse
We stopped by in Trinidad to see the memorial lighthouse as well as the original. Unfortunately for me, the original lighthouse is no longer accessible, but can only be seen from a distance. For some reason the US Coast Guard does not allow visitors to get close. Instead I stood on the railings of the platform from which to get a view of the lighthouse. The memorial lighthouse overlooks the beautiful Trindad Head Bay.
Date Visited: July 6, 2007
Battery Point Lighthouse
During the 4th of July weekend we drove to Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City. This was about 8 hours north entirely on Highway 101. This lighthouse can only be reached at low tide when the 'bridge' to it is not covered by water. It was one of the most beautiful lighthouses.
Date Visited: July 5, 2007
Santa Cruz Lighthouse
Allowing me to atone for my mistakes, Tobia humored me the following weekend after Walton Lighthouse and we drove out to the actual Santa Cruz Lighthouse I wanted to see. This was a trip down 17 South, and a pretty quick one at that. Once again, I was unamused by Santa Cruz's peaceful ocean currents and lack of waves, not to mention a bright day that was very hot. I was hoping for some fog. This was still much nicer than the Walton Lighthouse.
Date Visited: June 23, 2007
Walton Lighthouse in Santa Cruz
We headed to Santa Cruz intending on seeing the Santa Cruz Lighthouse. Having made a mistake, I led us to what I found to be the least interesting of all the lighthouses. I appreciate lighthouses on the basis of where they're situated in terms of terrain, closeness to ocean, and fierceness of conditions. This one simply didn't measure up.
Date Visited: June 16, 2007
Point Sur Lighthouse
We drove down Highway 1 South past Carmel to get to Point Sur Lighthouse. Point Sur was only accessible by organized trips, and on a first come, first served basis. A nice elderly couple took a group of us on this tour. I enjoyed the huge rock jutting out to ocean, upon which the lighthouse was perched.
Date Visited: June 9, 2007
Point Montara Lighthouse
I convinced some friends/coworkers to come out to Point Montara Lighthouse with Tobia and I. It was a nice foggy day and a quick drive to get out there following 92 West and 1 North. We hopped around some of the rocks and enjoyed being out in the cool day.
Date Visited: May 26, 2007
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pigeon Point Lighthouse was a drive on 92 West to 1 South for us, a surprisingly quick trip. We also had the opportunity to see some migrating whales at a distance, heading north for the summer. The lighthouse was the tallest we had seen up to that point. We subsequently drove by this lighthouse again when out with friends, and got a nice evening shot of the place.
Date Visited: March 31, 2007
Point Reyes Lighthouse
Point Reyes Lighthouse is one of the foggiest and windiest locations on the Pacific coastline. Initially driving north on Highway 1, then West for a long time on Sir Francis Drake Blvd, I reached the parking lot. From there, the Park bus drove us out to the Lighthouse station area. Once dropped off by the bus, there was a half a mile or so uphill hike to reach the stairs to the lighthouse- there were over 300 of them.
Date Visited: March 17, 2007
Point Bonita Lighthouse
Less than an hour away from home, a nearby, beautiful Point Bonita Lighthouse could be visited, just West of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Marin Headlands. The lighthouse can only be visited when the door allowing tourists through the big slab of rock is opened, generally around 12:30pm - 3:30pm on the weekends.
Date Visited: March 17, 2007
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse
Point Cabrillo was the first in the series of lighthouses I visited. It is just a few miles north of the beautiful town of Mendocino, up on Highway 1 in the Northern California coast. Getting there required a 3/4 mile walk, downhill, towards the lighthouse. The surrounding coastline is quite rugged. I descended down to the rocks and jumped around, enjoying the gloomy coastal fog.
Date Visited: September 3, 2006