Tier 1 · Essential · ★ Flagship 12

Trinidad Head Lighthouse

Trinidad Head Light Station

Trinidad · Humboldt County · North Coast

Active aidstandingPublic accesseasyU.S. Coast Guard

The Trinidad Head Memorial Lighthouse replica in town — Photo: Scott D. Sullivan· CC BY-SA 2.5· Wikimedia Commons

Year first lit

1871

Current structure built

1871

Tower height

25 ft

Focal plane

196 ft

Optic

Fourth-order Fresnel lens (original; reported still in active use)

Light characteristic

Iso W 4s (isophase white every 4 seconds)

Owner

U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

U.S. Coast Guard

Coordinates

41.0564, -124.1514 Map

Current hours

Headland trail accessible during daylight hours. Lighthouse interior not open to public.

Fees

Free

NRHP listed

Yes

History

Built 1871 on the dramatic Trinidad Head promontory. One of the most scenic lighthouse settings on the California coast. The original fog bell was replaced by a replica in Trinidad town. Active USCG aid to navigation.

Why it matters

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.

The visit

Trail to headland viewpoint provides excellent views of the lighthouse exterior. Interior not open to public. Replica fog bell in Trinidad town. Excellent tide pools and whale watching from the headland.

Logistics

Recommended base

Trinidad or Arcata

Nearby food / coffee

Larrupin Cafe (Trinidad), Trinidad Bay Eatery

Nearby lodging

Trinidad Bed and Breakfast, Patrick's Point State Park campground, Arcata hotels

Accessibility

Trail to headland viewpoint. Lighthouse itself is on USCG property and not open for interior tours. A replica of the lighthouse bell is on display in Trinidad town.

Flagship 12 anchor for the North Coast. High photography value, easy access, charming nearby town. Pairs with Battery Point for a North Coast overnight.

Nearby lighthouses

Battery Point Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Crescent City, North Coast

Tier 1Active aidPublic accesseasy⚠ Verify

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.

Humboldt Harbor Light

Eureka, North Coast

Tier 2InactivePublic accesseasy

First lighthouse on Humboldt Bay; the relocated tower at Woodley Island Marina is the only surviving physical remnant of the original station.

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Sources

Image rights: USCG images public domain. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

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