Tier 1

Point Montara Light Station

Montara · San Mateo County · Bay Area / Peninsula

On-site hostel makes it a popular overnight destination on the San Mateo coast. Pairs naturally with Pigeon Point for a Peninsula lighthouse overnight.

Active aidPublic accesseasy

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 Point Montara Light Station to collect your digital stamp. Add your name if you like.

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From the field

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Point Montara Light Station, an active aid and HI hostel — Photo: Frank Schulenburg· CC BY-SA 3.0· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

Day visitors have no public parking or restrooms. Groups of 8 or more must reserve in advance; contact HI Point Montara at (650) 728-7177 or pointmontara@hiusa.org.

Visit essentials

Access

walk-in grounds and beach access; no public visitor parking

Current hours

Property visitation and beach access daily 7:30am–sunset. Office/staff available 9am–9pm.

Tours

No public lighthouse tours; tower closed

Reservations

Required for groups of 8 or more; required for hostel stays

Fees

Free for grounds and beach access. Hostel rates vary.

Accessibility

Ground-level property; tower closed. No public restrooms or visitor parking; registered hostel guests receive gated on-site parking.

The light

Year first lit

1875

Current structure built

1928

Tower height

30 ft

Focal plane

70 ft

Optic

Automated LED beacon

Light characteristic

Fl W 5s (flashing white every 5 seconds)

Stewardship & location

Owner

U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

Hostelling International USA (HI USA), nonprofit property operator; U.S. Coast Guard maintains the active aid to navigation

Coordinates

37.5370, -122.5203 Map

National Register

Listed

The story

Built 1875; current cast-iron tower dates to 1928 (relocated from Cape Cod). HI Hostel on site since 1980. Active USCG aid to navigation.

The visit

Property grounds and beach access are open daily from 7:30am to sunset; the tower is closed. Groups of 8 or more need reservations. There is no public visitor parking or restroom, though registered hostel guests receive gated on-site parking.

Make a day of it

Base yourself in

On-site (HI Hostel) or Half Moon Bay

Food / coffee

Montara restaurants, Half Moon Bay restaurants

Stay nearby

HI Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel (on-site), Half Moon Bay hotels

Nearby lighthouses

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Pescadero, Bay Area / Peninsula

Tier 1Light status unconfirmedPublic accesseasy⚠ Verify

A lens with a life on two coasts, the daily labor of its keepers, and a tower being restored for another generation. The museum brings those stories within reach while the tower remains closed.

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

Sources

Image rights: Wikimedia Commons image used under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Research confidence: high · Last verified 2026-08-19