Tier 1 · Essential

Point Montara Light Station

Montara · San Mateo County · Bay Area / Peninsula

Point Montara Light Station is an active lighthouse on the Peninsula coast of California, first lit in 1875, owned by California State Parks. Compare this stop with the Flagship 12 circuit.

Active aidstandingPublic accesseasyCalifornia State Parks

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

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)

Owner

California State Parks

Manager

California State Parks / HI Hostelling International (hostel operator)

Coordinates

37.5370, -122.5203 Map

Current hours

Grounds open daily. Hostel check-in hours vary (see HI website).

Fees

Free (grounds). Hostel rates vary.

History

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

Why it matters

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

The visit

Grounds open daily. Tower not open. HI Hostel on site for overnight stays. Short drive from Half Moon Bay.

Logistics

Recommended base

On-site (HI Hostel) or Half Moon Bay

Nearby food / coffee

Montara restaurants, Half Moon Bay restaurants

Nearby lodging

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

Accessibility

Grounds accessible. Tower interior not open to public (active USCG). Hostel on site.

Tier 1 Peninsula site. Hostel makes it a natural overnight stop. Pairs with Pigeon Point for a Peninsula circuit.

Nearby lighthouses

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Pescadero, Bay Area / Peninsula

Tier 1Active aidPublic accesseasy⚠ Verify

Iconic silhouette on the San Mateo coast. One of the most photographed lighthouses in California. The on-site hostel makes it a unique overnight destination. Tower restoration is a major ongoing story.

Visited this light? Leave a note for the next driver.

Add your note

Spot something wrong on this page? Closure changed, broken link, a detail that no longer matches reality?

Sources

Officialparks.ca.gov
Secondarylighthousefriends.com/light.asp
Secondaryen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Montara_Light_Station
Imagescommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Point_Montara_Lighthouse.jpg

Image rights: CA State Parks images may require permission. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

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