Tier 1 · Essential

St. George Reef Lighthouse

St. George Reef Light Station

Crescent City · Del Norte County · North Coast

InactivestandingPublic accessextremeSt. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society

St. George Reef Lighthouse, the offshore granite tower north of Crescent City — Photo: U.S. Coast Guard· Public domain· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

2026 helicopter tour dates confirmed (Feb 28–Mar 1, 2026). Check for 2027 dates. Confirm Fresnel lens display location at Del Norte County Historical Society Museum.

Year first lit

1892

Current structure built

1892

Tower height

134 ft

Focal plane

144 ft

Optic

First-order Fresnel lens (original; removed and on display at Del Norte County Historical Society Museum, Crescent City)

Light characteristic

Decommissioned 1975

Owner

St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society

Manager

St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society

Coordinates

41.8365, -124.3764 Map

Current hours

Helicopter tours approximately 2 weekends per year. 2026 dates: February 28 and March 1 (already past). Check saintgeorgereeflight.org for next available dates.

Fees

Approximately $395–$400 per person

NRHP listed

Yes

History

The most expensive lighthouse ever built in the United States ($704,000 in 1892 dollars). Built on exposed rock 6 miles offshore in response to the 1865 wreck of the Brother Jonathan (225 lives lost). Decommissioned 1975. Helicopter-only access. Original first-order Fresnel lens on display in Crescent City.

Why it matters

The most expensive and most remote lighthouse in California history. The Brother Jonathan wreck story is one of the most dramatic in Pacific Coast maritime history. The helicopter tour is a bucket-list experience.

The visit

Helicopter tours approximately 2 weekends per year from Crescent City. $395–$400/person. 1.5 hours total. Limited to 8 per flight. 2026 tours already past — check for next year's dates. Original Fresnel lens viewable at Del Norte County Historical Society Museum.

Logistics

Recommended base

Crescent City

Nearby food / coffee

Crescent City restaurants

Nearby lodging

Crescent City hotels and motels

Accessibility

Helicopter access only. Physically demanding. Limited capacity (up to 8 per flight). Tours approximately 1.5 hours total.

Tier 1 North Coast site. Extreme access makes it a special-interest entry. The Fresnel lens in Crescent City is the accessible alternative. LA Times covered the 2026 helicopter tours (March 11, 2026).

Nearby lighthouses

The Trinidad Head Memorial Lighthouse replica in town

Trinidad Head Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Trinidad, North Coast

Tier 1Active aidPublic accesseasy

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.

Battery Point Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Crescent City, North Coast

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The tsunami survival story is one of the most dramatic in California lighthouse history. The tidal island setting — walk across at low tide, stranded at high tide — is unlike any other California lighthouse experience. The museum inside the original keeper's dwelling is excellent.

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Sources

Image rights: Preservation society images may require permission. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

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