Tier 2 · Notable
Punta Gorda Lighthouse
Punta Gorda Light Station
Petrolia · Humboldt County · North Coast
Punta Gorda Lighthouse is an inactive lighthouse on the North coast of California, first lit in 1912, owned by Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
⚠ Verify before you drive
Tidal conditions affect trail access; check BLM and tide charts before visiting. Permit may be required for overnight camping.
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History
Built 1912 on California's Lost Coast after a string of shipwrecks. One of the most isolated and difficult-to-supply light stations in the lower 48. Decommissioned 1951. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and restored most recently in 2022–2023 under the Great American Outdoors Act.
Why it matters
The Lost Coast's signature ruin, and proof that federal preservation funding still reaches remote California sites when someone advocates for it. The concrete tower and oil house remain in good condition after restoration.
The visit
Hike-in only — about 3.5 miles each way from the Mattole River trailhead via the Lost Coast Trail. Mind tide tables; sections of the beach are impassable at high tide. No staffing, no facilities. BLM may require permits for overnight; verify before going.
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Extreme access; not part of standard circuits. Appendix entry for serious hikers. Best combined with a Lost Coast backpacking trip.
Nearby lighthouses
Trinidad Head Lighthouse
★ Flagship 12Trinidad, North Coast
Dramatic headland setting with views of Trinidad Bay and the Pacific. The compact white tower against the rocky headland is one of the most photogenic lighthouse scenes in Northern California. The town of Trinidad is a charming base.
Cape Mendocino Light
Ferndale, North Coast
A short list of California lighthouses are still on their original sites; this one is not. The Ferndale display is the rare case where you can walk up to and around a relocated tower instead of squinting at a photograph in a museum.
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Sources
- Officiallighthousefriends.com/light.asp
- Officialblm.gov/visit/punta-gorda-lighthouse
- Secondarysecretsanfrancisco.com/punta-gorda-lighthouse-abandoned-lost-coast-california
- Imagescommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Punta_Gorda_Lighthouse.jpg
Image rights: Wikimedia Commons images available. BLM photos are public domain.
Research confidence: high · Last verified 2026-05-13