Tier 1 · Essential · ★ Flagship 12

Point Reyes Lighthouse

Point Reyes Light Station

Point Reyes Station · Marin County · Bay Area / North Bay

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

Point Reyes Lighthouse below its 308-step staircase — Photo: Frank Schulenburg· CC BY-SA 4.0· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

Access confirmed via NPS. Wind closures are unpredictable. Seasonal shuttle confirmed for Jan–Apr. Lens status (in place, not active) confirmed via NPS.

Year first lit

1870

Current structure built

1870

Tower height

37 ft

Focal plane

294 ft

Optic

First-order Fresnel lens (original; still in place inside lighthouse; NOT the active beacon)

Light characteristic

Fl W 5s (flashing white every 5 seconds; automated LED beacon)

Owner

National Park Service / U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

NPS – Point Reyes National Seashore

Coordinates

37.9996, -123.0225 Map

Current hours

Stairs open only when Lighthouse Visitor Center is open AND wind speeds below 40 mph. Stairs close promptly at 4 PM. Observation Deck open daily 6am–~11:45pm.

Fees

Free (Point Reyes National Seashore has no entrance fee)

NRHP listed

Yes

History

Built 1870 on one of the foggiest and windiest points on the Pacific Coast. Served 105 years before automation in 1975. Original first-order Fresnel lens preserved in place. Point Reyes Headlands jut 10 miles out to sea, posing a major hazard to ships traveling between San Francisco Bay and northern ports.

Why it matters

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.

The visit

Drive to Point Reyes Headlands (or take seasonal shuttle Jan–Apr). Walk to Observation Deck (open daily). Descend 308 steps to lighthouse when visitor center is open and wind allows. Historic Fresnel lens viewable inside. Whale watching from headlands Dec–Apr.

Logistics

Recommended base

Point Reyes Station or Inverness

Nearby food / coffee

Osteria Stellina (Point Reyes Station), Cowgirl Creamery (Point Reyes Station), Inverness Park Market

Nearby lodging

Point Reyes Seashore Lodge, Inverness Park Cottages, Olema Ranch Campground

Accessibility

308 steps down to lighthouse. Wind closures frequent. Seasonal shuttle required Jan–Apr. Not wheelchair accessible to lighthouse level.

Flagship 12 anchor for the North Bay. High history, high photography, high romance value. Wind closures add unpredictability — plan for flexibility. Pairs with Point Bonita and Point Arena for a Bay-to-Mendocino circuit.

Nearby lighthouses

Point Bonita Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Sausalito, Bay Area

Tier 1Active aidPublic accessmoderate⚠ Verify

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.

Point Arena Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Point Arena, Mendocino Coast

Tier 1Active aidPublic accesseasy⚠ Verify

The earthquake story is one of the most compelling in California lighthouse history. The 115-ft tower is climbable. On-site keeper cottage lodging makes it a premier lighthouse overnight destination. Tectonic plate boundary runs through the property.

Visited this light? Leave a note in the Keeper's Log.

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Sources

Officialnps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/lighthouse.htm
Officialnps.gov/pore/learn/historyculture/stories_maritime_lighthouse.htm
Secondarylighthousefriends.com/light.asp
Secondaryen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes_Lighthouse
Imagescommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Point_Reyes_Lighthouse.jpg
Imagesloc.gov/pictures/search

Image rights: NPS images generally public domain. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images. HAER/HABS Library of Congress images public domain.

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