The Lighthouse Circuit

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

Tier 1 · Essential · ★ Flagship 12

Point Arena Lighthouse

Point Arena Light Station

Point Arena · Mendocino County · Mendocino Coast

Point Arena Lighthouse is an active lighthouse on the Mendocino coast of California, first lit in 1870, owned by Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (nonprofit). It is one of the twelve flagship stations of The Lighthouse Circuit. This lighthouse is part of the Flagship 12 circuit.

Active aidstandingPublic accesseasyPoint Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (nonprofit)
Point Arena Lighthouse rising above the Mendocino Coast
Photo: Frank Schulenburg· CC BY-SA 4.0· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

Access and fees confirmed via the official website. Hours, optic, beacon, history, full-moon tour timing, dining, and lodging terminology verified directly by Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. in August 2026. Lodging reservations required.

Year first lit

1870

Current structure built

1908

Tower height

115 ft

Focal plane

155 ft

Optic

First-order Fresnel lens (the original 1870 lighthouse and the 1908 tower both used a first-order optic; the lens was relocated to the museum during the 2008–2010 restoration)

Light characteristic

Fl W 15s — one-second white flash every 15 seconds (VLB-44 beacon)

Owner

Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (nonprofit)

Manager

Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc.

Coordinates

38.9549, -123.7400 Map

Current hours

Open daily 10am–3:30pm most of the year. Summer hours are 10am–4:30pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Fees

$5 per person 12+ for site visit (includes museum); additional $5 for tower climb (ages 4+)

NRHP listed

Yes

History

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake severely damaged the original 1870 lighthouse. The current concrete tower (1908) was one of the first earthquake-resistant lighthouse designs in the US and is also the first steel reinforced concrete Lighthouse built in America. It is the closest point on the continental United States to Hawaii and the northernmost point in the contiguous US where the North American and Pacific tectonic plates meet at the coast.

Why it matters

The earthquake story is one of the most compelling in California lighthouse history. The 115-ft tower is climbable. On-site cottages, suites & studios make it a premier lighthouse overnight destination. The tectonic plate boundary runs through the property.

The visit

Open daily. Site visit includes indoor museum and 23-acre outdoor museum. Tower climb ($5 extra) offers panoramic views. Cottages, suites & studios are available for overnight stays. Full moon night tours are offered monthly on the Saturday closest to the full moon, or on the full moon itself when it falls on a Saturday.

Logistics

Recommended base

Point Arena (on-site cottages, suites & studios) or Gualala

Nearby food / coffee

Arena Market and Cafe (Point Arena), Rollerville Cafe (Point Arena), Franny's Cup & Saucer, Little Green Bean Coffee Roastery, The Record brewpub, Izakaya Gama restaurant

Nearby lodging

Point Arena Lighthouse cottages, suites & studios (on-site), Gualala hotels, Sea Ranch Lodge

Accessibility

Grounds accessible. Tower climb requires physical ability (115 ft, multiple stairways). Cottages, suites & studios are available for overnight stays, including pet-friendly options.

Flagship 12 anchor for the Mendocino Coast. High history, high photography, high romance value. On-site lodging makes it a natural overnight stop. Tower climb is a highlight.

Nearby lighthouses

Point Reyes Lighthouse below its 308-step staircase

Point Reyes Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Point Reyes Station, Bay Area / North Bay

Tier 1Active aidPublic accessmoderate⚠ Verify

One of the windiest spots in North America — the lighthouse was built to withstand 100+ mph gusts. The preserved first-order Fresnel lens is one of the finest examples in California. The 308-step descent to the lighthouse is itself a memorable experience.

Point Cabrillo Light Station at sunrise

Point Cabrillo Light Station

★ Flagship 12

Mendocino, Mendocino Coast

Tier 1Active aidPublic accesseasy

One of the most complete and best-preserved light station complexes in California, with keeper-house lodging and the state's last historic rotating Fresnel lens. It is a short drive from Mendocino, but the highway and fast local roads make walking from the village unsafe and inadvisable. The Mendocino coast setting is among the most scenic in the state.

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Sources

Image rights: Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers images may require permission. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

Research confidence: high · Last verified 2026-08-13