30 California lighthouses shine a beacon out to the ocean alongside the shoreline. From California’s oldest Lighthouse, Level Pinos, to the historic Outdated Level Loma, these superbly constructed buildings face the ocean and the winds to alert us of impending hazard.
16 out of the 30 lighthouses are open to vacationers, and 6 provide in a single day lodging for guests who wish to keep the evening in California.
This submit covers one of the best California lighthouses to go to and {photograph}.
10 Most Exiting Lighthouses in California
We ranked these lighthouses from journey and panorama pictures views, with essentially the most photogenic on the prime.
1. Level Sur Lighthouse
Level Sur is without doubt one of the most well-known lighthouses on the Pacific Coast Freeway, positioned about 20 miles south of Carmel by the ocean and Level Lobos Pure Reserve.
This Lighthouse is constructed on a 330ft volcanic rock to miss the realm beneath. From level Sur, you may view the scenic Pacific ocean and the coast.
Level Sur was the previous US navy base that operated through the chilly conflict. The perform of the bottom was to detect soviet submarines touring in opposition to the California coast. In the present day, vacationers can go to the bottom on tour at weekends from 10:00 am till sundown.
The tour is scheduled based mostly on the month of the yr. Throughout summer time (April to September), excursions are scheduled from 10 am to 2:00 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Throughout the winter (October to March), excursions are scheduled on Sundays and Saturdays between 10 am and 1 pm.
The tour hosts enjoyable and themed actions like ghost excursions, the place you may study concerning the historic spirits that haunted these areas.
If you wish to keep the evening, you may hire a hostel in Large Sur (South of Large Sur) and Caramel by the ocean (near the north).
2. Level Bonita Lighthouse
Positioned on the Marin Headlands tip, throughout the San Francisco bay Level Bonita Lighthouse directs the way in which of ships coming into San Francisco. It was first lit in 1855 through the California Gold Rush years. It’s now part of the Golden Gate Nationwide Recreation Space.
The lighthouse is constructed at Level Bonita’s tip on a peninsula extending into San Francisco Bay. The unique lighthouse was a wood construction inbuilt 1855, which was changed by the present brick lighthouse.
The lighthouse affords implausible views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and San Francisco. Level Bonita Lighthouse is without doubt one of the most iconic lighthouses in California.
Guests can entry the Lighthouse solely two days per week (12:30–3:30 p.m.) on Sundays and Monday.
3. Pigeon Level Mild Station – Pescadero
Pigeon Level mild station was constructed in 1872 and stays the tallest lighthouse on the west coast. The lighthouse tower is underneath renovation and could also be unavailable to the general public, however guests can nonetheless entry and take footage of the environment.
The distinctive characteristic that makes Pescadero value visiting is the implausible seashores across the Lighthouse’s neighborhood.
Pigeon Level Mild Station is positioned alongside the pacific coast freeway, which is midway between Santa Cruz and San Francisco.
Guests can entry the Lighthouse from 8 am to five pm, and admission is freed from cost.
There are good hostels across the neighborhood of the Lighthouse. You possibly can spend a number of days in these wonderful hostels at an inexpensive worth. Nonetheless, be ready to regulate to the restricted companies the hostel might present.
4. Piedras Blancas Lighthouse
When you love lighthouses, Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, the favored Lighthouse on the central coast of California, is value a go to. This Lighthouse is positioned alongside a scenic freeway simply north of San Simeon.
Piedras Blancas began operation in 1875 and continues to be functioning apart from its higher degree, which has been eliminated.
The Lighthouse is open to guided excursions on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday all yr spherical. Guests can solely tour outdoors of the constructing and never contained in the tower.
It’s an thrilling place to get pleasure from with the household. Youngsters will love the sight of sea lions, sea birds, and elephant seals through the winter months.
5. Alcatraz Lighthouse
The Alcatraz lighthouse began operation in 1852, which makes it the primary Lighthouse in California.
This Lighthouse is positioned within the mid-region of San Francisco Bay close to the Alcatraz jail.
You’ll must e book a reservation to view the Alcatraz lighthouse up shut. The Lighthouse shouldn’t be out there to the general public, however you may nonetheless get a sneak peek into the tower while you take a nationwide parks tour to the island of Alcatraz.
You will get your ticket on-line through their official web site or on the park, however tickets are often offered per week earlier than the tour.
Though you might present up on the location to purchase your ticket (should you’re fortunate sufficient), it’s finest to get the ticket on-line earlier than the tour to keep away from delays.
Don’t wish to stroll? The hop-off bus tour, hop-on tour, and the Chinatown stroll tour are nice choices for you.
6. Level Vicente Lighthouse
Level Vicente lighthouse is Positioned in Los Angeles, South California Civilian keepers initially constructed this Lighthouse earlier than handing it over to the US Coast Guard for operation and upkeep.
In the present day, it options an automatic radio station used because the commutation heart in rescue operations. Guests can entry this Lighthouse each second Saturday of the month from 10 am until sundown.
An thrilling spotlight of the Level Vicente Lighthouse is its interpretive heart, the place you may have enjoyable and study concerning the historical past of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. This Lighthouse is a superb place for whale watching for individuals who go to from December to Might.
7. Battery Level Lighthouse – Crescent Metropolis
This Lighthouse is positioned on the outskirt of Crescent Metropolis between the Oregon and California border. Battery Level lighthouse is a home with a smaller lighthouse roof (when in comparison with different parts on the market) however with a novel place.
Battery Level Lighthouse has additionally been haunted up to now. Sources claimed that there are invisible footsteps of individuals transferring up the steps of the Lighthouse at evening and even incidents of chairs transferring inexplicably across the Lighthouse.
This Lighthouse is located on the Crescent metropolis outskirt. The Lighthouse might be accessed when it’s allowed by the tide. Go to their web site to review the present situation of the wave, not figuring out if the street is accessible or not. If you wish to do greater than stroll across the Lighthouse, you have to plan your visits accordingly.
Battery Level lighthouse is open from April to September between 10 am- 4 pm however solely on weekends throughout different months. There are a lot of handy places to spend your evening in Crescent Metropolis.
8. Level Reyes Lighthouse – Level Reyes
Though Level Reyes Lighthouse shouldn’t be one of the best Lighthouse or the distinctive lighthouses on our record, visiting the realm is value it.
The Lighthouse is constructed on a cliff in Level Reyes Nationwide seashore. You have to undergo a path from the town’s customer heart to go to the Lighthouse. Simply stroll down as much as 313 steps on this path to succeed in your vacation spot.
As a result of it’s a windy space and for safety causes, the ultimate a part of the trail is closed. So ensure you test the official web site so that you gained’t be upset upon arrival.
To succeed in the Reyes lighthouse, positioned at their nationwide seashore, you drive from level Reyes station to the tip of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, about 20 miles.
Though Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore is accessible for guests from 6 am till sundown, if climate permits, the Lighthouse is accessible from Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:40 pm.
If you wish to keep the evening, there are a number of lodging choices that yow will discover alongside the Level Reyes Nationwide seashore roads.
9. Fort Level Lighthouse
Fort Level is a small lighthouse alongside the Golden Gate bridge in southern San Francisco. It began its operation in 1864 however was later decommissioned in 1934 when the golden gate bridge blocked its mild.
US Military engineers constructed the Lighthouse to guard San Francisco bay from assaults. Throughout your go to to the Presidio park grounds and the golden gates, you may discover the Fort Level Nationwide Historic Website, out there to the general public from October to Might, Friday to Sunday, between 10 am to five pm.
Positioned across the southern space of the Golden Gate bridge, guests can entry Fort Pointe from the Presidio. The Lighthouse is accessible to the general public from Friday to Sunday and from October to Might between 10 am – 5 pm.
10. Level Cabrillo Lighthouse – Mendocino
The Level Cabrillo Lighthouse has its location in northern California round Cabrillo. Guests can entry the rooms across the floor flooring and a museum that explains some options of Cabrillo’s historical past and construction. Guests can’t climb into the Lighthouse except there’s a special day, which is often up to date on their official web site.
Whereas the park is open 24 hours, the Lighthouse is accessible each day to the general public from 11 am to 4 pm. You’ll must donate $5 to enter the lighthouse constructing. If you wish to keep the evening, one of the best place to search for lodging is in Mendocino.
California Lighthouses | Conclusion
Be sure you discover our record of the gorgeous California lighthouses illuminating the lights for many years. These uniquely constructed buildings are ingenious monuments that face the ocean and the winds to guard us.
These distinctive lighthouses are California’s most photographed icons. As well as, the decommissioned lighthouses are restructured into vacationer points of interest and museums that present guests with an unforgettable trip expertise.
Ensure you have a correct plan earlier than visiting any of those California lighthouses. All the time test for updates on their official web sites.