Tier 1 · Essential · ★ Flagship 12

Point Bonita Lighthouse

Point Bonita Light Station

Sausalito · Marin County · Bay Area

Active aidstandingPublic accessmoderateNational Park Service / U.S. Coast Guard

Point Bonita Lighthouse at the end of its suspension bridge in the Marin Headlands — Photo: Frank Schulenburg· CC BY-SA 4.0· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

Suspension bridge closure confirmed via NPS (updated April 22, 2026). Trail access confirmed as third Saturday only. Verify if any changes to schedule.

Year first lit

1855

Current structure built

1877

Tower height

33 ft

Focal plane

124 ft

Optic

Fourth-order Fresnel lens (original; reported still in active use)

Light characteristic

Fl W 4s (flashing white every 4 seconds)

Owner

National Park Service / U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

NPS – Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Coordinates

37.8155, -122.5296 Map

Current hours

Point Bonita Trail open third Saturday of every month, 12:30–3:30 PM only

Fees

Free

NRHP listed

Yes

History

First lighthouse at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. Original 1855 lighthouse was the first fog signal station on the Pacific Coast. Current structure dates to 1877. Dramatic setting on rocky headland accessed by suspension bridge (currently closed). Over 300 ships wrecked in the Golden Gate during the Gold Rush years despite the light.

Why it matters

The guardian of the Golden Gate. One of the most dramatic lighthouse settings in the United States — perched on a rocky point, accessed by a suspension bridge over crashing surf. The very limited access (one Saturday per month) makes planning essential.

The visit

Trail open third Saturday of each month, 12:30–3:30 PM only. Suspension bridge closed until further notice — viewing platform accessible. Bring binoculars for harbor seals, whales, and porpoises. Contact GOGA_MarinHeadlands_Info@nps.gov for updates.

Logistics

Recommended base

Sausalito or San Francisco

Nearby food / coffee

Sausalito waterfront restaurants, San Francisco (15 min via bridge)

Nearby lodging

Sausalito hotels, San Francisco hotels, Marin Headlands Hostel (nearby)

Accessibility

Suspension bridge CLOSED until further notice. Viewing platform accessible during open hours. No pets, bikes, or smoking on trail. Limited parking at Point Bonita lot; overflow at Battery Alexander parking lot.

Flagship 12 anchor for the Bay Area. Dramatic setting, high photography value, active light. Very limited access requires careful trip planning. Pairs with Alcatraz and East Brother for a Bay Area circuit.

Nearby lighthouses

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The first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast. The Alcatraz connection makes it one of the most-visited lighthouse sites in the United States. The lighthouse is often overlooked by visitors focused on the prison — a compelling story angle.

Lime Point Light

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Recent log entries

Sep 21, 2025·J.T., San Francisco

Suspension bridge is open Saturdays and Sundays only, 12:30 to 3:30pm in summer. We rolled up at 1:15 thinking we had plenty of time. The line for the bridge wraps back through the rock tunnel — took us 40 minutes to get across. The view from the bridge itself is the real reward; the lighthouse is almost a footnote at the end. NPS rangers were friendly and answered everything.

Tip · Get there at 12:30 sharp or after 2:30. Middle of the open window is the worst line.

crowdsWeekend-only access during peak season creates long lines at the bridge tunnel.

Drove from San Francisco

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Sources

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

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