The Lighthouse Circuit

Access, tours, hours, fees, and closures change often. Always verify with the official source before driving.

Tier 2

Anacapa Island Light Station

Ventura · Ventura County · Southern California

The most accessible of the Channel Islands lights and the only one with regular public visitation. The Spanish-revival station buildings on a treeless ocean headland are a distinctive piece of 1930s Coast Guard architecture.

Active aidPublic accessdifficult
Labels
Tier 1–3
Editorial browse cues for prominence and context—not circuits, checklists, or achievements.
Active aid
The light currently serves navigation. It does not mean the tower, grounds, or interior are open to visitors.
Public / restricted access
Some approved visitor access versus a legal viewpoint, special arrangement, or no ordinary public entry. Always check the official guidance.
Flagship 12
The curated statewide circuit. It is separate from the editorial tier labels.

Your lighthouse passport

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Check in at Anacapa Island Light Station to collect your digital stamp. Add your name if you like.

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From the field

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Anacapa Island Light Station in the Channel Islands
Photo: Unknown author· Public domain· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

Hours, fees, tours, or access status at this station change often. Confirm with the official source before your trip.

Visit essentials

Access

ferry only (Island Packers from Ventura Harbor; 1–1.5 hours)

Current hours

Island Packers ferry year-round (variable schedule). Reservations required.

Reservations

Yes (Island Packers; book at islandpackers.com)

Fees

Ferry: approximately $50–$60/person (verify current pricing)

Accessibility

Visitors must step from moving boat to metal landing platform. 157 steps up from landing. Not wheelchair accessible. No pets.

The light

Year first lit

1912

Current structure built

1932

Tower height

39 ft

Focal plane

277 ft

Optic

Automated LED beacon

Light characteristic

Fl W 60s (flashing white every 60 seconds)

Stewardship & location

Owner

National Park Service / U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

NPS – Channel Islands National Park

Coordinates

34.0143, -119.3592 Map

The story

Built 1912; current structure 1932. The white concrete tower sits on the east end of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park, jointly stewarded by NPS and the U.S. Coast Guard. The foghorn here is one of the more recognizable sounds on the Southern California coast.

The visit

Reachable only by the Island Packers ferry out of Ventura Harbor — about 1–1.5 hours each way, year-round on a variable schedule, reservations required. The landing is by metal-rung ladder, and 157 steps lead up from the cove. Verify the ferry schedule and your own footing before booking.

Make a day of it

Base yourself in

Ventura or Oxnard

Nearby lighthouses

Historic Santa Barbara Lighthouse

Santa Barbara Lighthouse

Santa Barbara, Central Coast

Tier 2Active aidRestrictedeasy

The earthquake history is the entry's reason for being. California has few lighthouses whose original structure is gone due to seismic damage, and Santa Barbara is the cleanest example.

Help keep this guide accurate: report changed access, a broken link, or a factual correction.

Sources

Image rights: NPS images generally public domain. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

Research confidence: high · Last verified 2026-05-13