Point Reyes Lighthouse Considered one of the foggiest and windiest stations in the United States, Point Reyes inspired Lightkeeper Edwin G. Chamberlain to record the following prose in the station’s logbook Fog Signal at Point Reyes in its original location To start with, Point Reyes is the windiest place on the Pacific Coast. Take water and snacks in the car if you have children. Due to concerns that Point Reyes’ heavy fog could obscure the lighthouse, it was built 275 feet down the bluff. Popular Point Reyes National Seashore Categories, Commonly searched for in Point Reyes National Seashore, Things to Do in Point Reyes National Seashore, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Is this attraction a good place to visit on a, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, I didn’t know what we were heading for. Interior of the light tower, ground floor. The prominent, upward-sloping Salinian Block formation can be seen here from the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Point Reyes is the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and the second foggiest place on the North American continent, making a lighthouse in this location an absolute necessity. The Guide there was very knowledgeable and friendly. What attractions are near Point Reyes Lighthouse? A lighthouse was assigned to Point Reyes in 1855, but construction was delayed for fifteen years because of a dispute between the United States Lighthouse Board and the landowners over a fair price for the land. The scenery and the animals were nice though . Dependent children on the station travel three miles (five kilometers) by station vehicle to school. The lighthouse sits at the westernmost tip of a headland that juts out 10 miles into the sea. Point Reyes Lighthouse is located all the way at the end of Sir Francis Drake Blvd in Point Reyes National Seashore. The drive to the Point Reyes Lighthouse from San Francisco was not bad, maybe 1.5 hrs. At the visitor center the ranger said the driving distance is a 45 mile loop. On my RV trip up the California and Oregon Coast, I decided to visit Point Reyes Lighthouse. Blasting out a site from these dangerous looking cliffs, the lighthouse was positioned in one of the windiest and foggiest places in North America. The Point Reyes Lighthouse opened last week after a 15-month restoration, the first major project since it was constructed in 1870. Per night/room. The elephant seals’ presence, however, is welcome at Point Reyes. In 1975 the station was automated and in 1977 it was handed over to the National Park Service. The park's adjacent Lighthouse Visitor Center features exhibits about the lighthouse and the park's marine life and natural history. Escorting visitors has become a major portion of the duties of men assigned. This particular day was foggy and very windy (perhaps carry windbreakers or the like as. The animal was absent from the seashore for more than 150 years, according to the National Park Service. A very remote place, very desolate. Point Reyes Lighthouse Hotels Flights to Point Reyes Station Things to do in Point Reyes Station Car Rentals in Point Reyes Lighthouse Point Reyes Station Vacation Packages California may have travel restrictions in place, including self-quarantine, due to COVID-19. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. If planning a visit to the lighthouse, get in contact twith the Point Reyes … The station is frequently blanketed by week-long periods of fog and few years pass that do not see violent gales of 75 to 100 miles per hour (121 to 161 km/h) strike the area. But there’s more to Point Reyes than a lighthouse. The following historical information from March 1962 is maintained on the USCG web site: Point Reyes Light Station was established in 1870 at Point Reyes, Calif., 19 miles (31 km) from the nearest town of Inverness. First order Fresnel lens at Point Reyes lighthouse after a 15-month restoration project completed in November 2019. Today, We went to Point Reyes National Seashore! U-turn to the Point Reyes lighthouse! Buildings maintained on the property, in addition to the family quarters, are the fog signal building, engine room, pump house, paint locker, double garage and a four-car carport with adjoining office and workshop. Tower at Point Reyes Lighthouse … What restaurants are near Point Reyes Lighthouse? Some locations are subject to intermittent closures due to parking availability.” Landmarks & Historical Buildings in Point Reyes Station, CA We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. especially since it was a clear sunny day though I ended up stopping by one of the beaches nearby instead. The quarters are new, two-story, four-family units (four-plex) built in 1960. Point Reyes Lighthouse 2700 Sir Frances Drake Blvd Inverness CA 94937. I would like to revisit Point Reyes again when the road to the Lighthouse is reopened or maybe one of the other beaches there (which hopefully won't have such rude people). (Point Reyes … Unfortunately there is no beach access from the lighthouse, but Point Reyes National Seashore has many sandy beaches to choose from including the south end of The Great Beach which is nearby. It is only open on the weekends, but you can view it from the main viewpoint during the days it isn’t open. This visit was over the 4th of July weekend. 8 of 15 Point Reyes National Seashore Chief of Cultural Resources Paul Engel walks down the staircase to the newly restored Point Reyes Lighthouse in Point Reyes, Calif. Wednesday, Nov. 6, … The Point Reyes Lighthouse (Point Reyes Light or the Point Reyes Light Station) is a lighthouse in Marin County California at Point Reyes National Seashore. It was thanksgiving and the weather was cold and windy. The lighthouse is situated toward the bottom of the cliffs so it can be seen below the fog line. Come and join our journey to Point Reyes Lighthouse. The automated light on fog signal building. Road was closed (not marked until we were almost there, nice long drive out and back and nothing to see. you can sit an, Recently spent an entire afternoon exploring the national seashore. Menu & Reservations Make Reservations . I did see some other wildlife (like elk, deer, cows, etc.) On weekends and holidays from late December through mid-April when visitation by whale watchers to the Point Reyes Lighthouse area is heavy, visitors may be required to ride a shuttle bus from Drakes Beach to the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock areas. The Lighthouse can be seen from the observation deck Nov 30 - Dec 1 . The Point Reyes Lighthouse is a bit underwhelming (even more so if you don't do your research ahead of time). Electricity came to the lighthouse in 1938, and concrete steps were built into the cliff in 1939. Visitors can access the Lighthouse Visitor Center, the upper observation deck, or the 308-foot staircase down to the lighthouse on a short 0.4-mile hike from the parking area. With a three-hour stay in the park, visitors can see and do a number of things, one of which is to visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse.Travel time to the Lighthouse parking lot from the Bear Valley Visitor Center is approximately 45 minutes. The views around it were commanding!!!! The lighthouse is open for tours, but has a highly variable schedule, and can sometimes be closed due to high winds. This was the first light I have ever seen that is the equivalent of only "a top" of an East Coast lighthouse. Saw coyotes, hawks, and of course many elephant seals! The Point Reyes Lighthouse is possibly the most dramatic in all of California. Long stairs leading down to the lighthouse. Point Reyes National Seashore Bed and Breakfast, Point Reyes National Seashore Vacation Rentals, Point Reyes National Seashore Vacation Packages, Point Reyes National Seashore Restaurants, Point Reyes National Seashore Travel Forum, Point Reyes National Seashore Travel Guide, Point Reyes National Seashore Hotel Deals, Point Reyes National Seashore Campgrounds, Point Reyes National Seashore Family Hotels, Romantic Hotels in Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes National Seashore Green Hotels, Point Reyes National Seashore Beach Hotels, Pet Friendly Hotels in Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes National Seashore Hotels with Pools, Hotels near (LAX) Los Angeles Intl Airport, Hotels near (OAK) Metropolitan Oakland Intl Airport, All things to do in Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes Station Historical Walking Tours, Sights & Landmarks in Point Reyes National Seashore, Historic Sites in Point Reyes National Seashore, Lighthouses in Point Reyes National Seashore, Scenic Drives in Point Reyes National Seashore, Day Trips in Point Reyes National Seashore, Outdoor Activities in Point Reyes National Seashore, Horseback Riding Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Hiking Trails in Point Reyes National Seashore, Boat Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Gear Rentals in Point Reyes National Seashore, Kayaking & Canoeing in Point Reyes National Seashore, Hiking & Camping Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Nature & Wildlife Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Stand-Up Paddleboarding in Point Reyes National Seashore, Nature & Parks in Point Reyes National Seashore, Mountains in Point Reyes National Seashore, National Parks in Point Reyes National Seashore, Nature & Wildlife Areas in Point Reyes National Seashore, State Parks in Point Reyes National Seashore, Sightseeing Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Walking Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Food Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, City Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Cultural Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Historical & Heritage Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Private Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Photography Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Multi-day Tours in Point Reyes National Seashore, Boat Tours & Water Sports in Point Reyes National Seashore, Food & Drink in Point Reyes National Seashore, Wineries & Vineyards in Point Reyes National Seashore, Shopping in Point Reyes National Seashore, Art Galleries in Point Reyes National Seashore, Gift & Specialty Shops in Point Reyes National Seashore, Traveler Resources in Point Reyes National Seashore, Visitor Centers in Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes Hiking Trails: Tickets & Tours‎, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.: Tickets & Tours‎, Marconi State Historic Park: Tickets & Tours‎, Bear Valley Visitor Center: Tickets & Tours‎, Point Reyes Vineyards Tasting Room: Tickets & Tours‎, things to do in Point Reyes National Seashore, See all 2 Point Reyes Lighthouse tours on Tripadvisor, Point Reyes Country Inn and Stables, Cottages on the Bay, Groom's Quarters, View all hotels near Point Reyes Lighthouse on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Point Reyes Lighthouse on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Point Reyes Lighthouse on Tripadvisor. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is a 45-minute drive from the main visitor center at Bear Valley along Sir Francis Drake Highway. Understand how cutting-edge agricultural technologies now sit cheek-to-jowl with age-old farming methods as you listen to recorded narration. Hotels near Point Reyes Lighthouse: (0.00 km) Camp Glen (2.33 km) Black Heron Inn (7.09 km) Osprey Peak Bed & Breakfast (3.70 km) Motel Inverness (2.43 km) Point Reyes Country Inn and Stables, Cottages on the Bay, Groom's Quarters; View all hotels near Point Reyes Lighthouse on Tripadvisor Loved this park!!! On fair summer weekends we often have several hundred visitors logged aboard. It is a family station with a complement of four men who maintain a first order light, fog signal and radio beacon. That is my description of this very cool lighthouse. Please be patient and look for less crowded park areas to explore. more, Other experiences in Point Reyes National Seashore. Visitors can climb about 300 steps down to the lighthouse itself, weather permitting. The Point Reyes Lighthouse, also known as Point Reyes Light or the Point Reyes Light Station, is a lighthouse in the Gulf of the Farallones on Point Reyes in Point Reyes National Seashore, located in Marin County, California, United States. The Lighthouse itself was amazing. The Point Reyes Light has been the paper of record for the coastal communities from Dillon Beach in the north to Muir Beach in the south and inland from Chileno … The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse was built in 1870 to warn mariners of this navigational hazard and served for 105 years. The road was very curvy but also beautiful. Get directions, reviews and information for Point Reyes Lighthouse in Inverness, CA. It’s one of the few lighthouses that you can go inside and look around. The top of the lantern is 37 feet (11 m) above the ground and focal plane of the light is 294 feet (90 m) above sea level. it and this lighthouse is the only one in nation that still has the original lens installed and working. The drive to the Point Reyes Lighthouse from San Francisco was not bad, maybe 1.5 hrs. The lighthouse is a sixteen sided, 37-foot (11 m) tower, and a twin of Cape Mendocino Light. What hotels are near Point Reyes Lighthouse? Then we came to the cliff an, It is beautiful place and lot of attractions all around . Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center Top Point Reyes Lighthouse Hotels Deals. It is also the subject of a poem by Weldon Kees, "The Exposed Reef." The main chamber of the lighthouse, known as the Lens Room, features the Fresnel lens and clockwork mechanism, and is open to the public on a limited basis. 5/5 (1 Reviews) 20.0 km from Point Reyes Lighthouse . The scenery was nice though I accidently walked by a sleeping elephant seal (that I didn't notice at first which was 12ft away from me) and a rude park ranger started screaming at me across the beach and causing a scene. In 2017, 2.45 million people visited Point Reyes National Seashore and, of these, 400,000 ventured to the lighthouse, according to park staff. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is located in Inverness which is beyond the town of Point Reyes; this is important to know as you will likely get lost or underestimate the time needed to get out to the light house via Google Maps etc. The Point Reyes Lighthouse, also known as Point Reyes Light or the Point Reyes Light Station, is a lighthouse in the Gulf of the Farallones on Point Reyes in Point Reyes National Seashore, located in Marin County, California, United States. Point Reyes Lighthouse, California. Via Point Reyes National Seashore “Pierce Point Road is temporarily closed due to reaching capacity. The park is seeing heavy visitation on this New Year's Day. Point Reyes Lighthouse Visitor Center Trail is a 1.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Inverness, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Price for 1 night 2 adults* $125 . The Lighthouse itself was amazing. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. From the parking lot it is a 10–15 minute walk to the Lighthouse Visitor Center. Commissary and post exchange privileges are available at Hamilton Air Force Base (the nearest armed forces installation), or in the San Francisco area. Tomales Point Trail. The road was very curvy but also beautiful. Do you need to book in advance to visit Point Reyes Lighthouse? Point Reyes,California,USA - June 25, 2015 : The lighthouse of Point Reyes. From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 species of plants and animals to discover. [5], It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The Point Reyes Lighthouse, out on the end of the point, is one of the most pristine and beautiful lighthouses along the California coast. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat) The Point Reyes Lighthouse, also known as Point Reyes Light or the Point Reyes Light Station, is a lighthouse in the Gulf of the. You have to transcend 318 stairs to get there but the views are worth. The Point Reyes Lighthouse was retired from service in 1975 when the U.S. Coast Guard installed an automated light adjacent and below the historic tower. Point Reyes Light Station, shortly after the completion of the tower but before the construction of the work room. FACTS: Point Reyes National Seashore 1 Bear Valley Road Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 It was disappointing. Learn about San Francisco's rich farming traditions during this self-guided audio tour from Point Reyes Seashore to the village of Tomales. The four-plex contains two 2-bedroom and two 3-bedroom units. Some signs will point you to it when you are in the park. Point Reyes is, by official records, the windiest and foggiest on the Pacific Coast. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The light tower itself is a sixteen-sided structure of forged iron plate (the original tower) bolted to solid rock. There is no set reopening date yet and online it said "closed until further notice" so I recommend checking online for updates before you go. Detail of light tower and lantern house in 2009, with first order Fresnel lens visible. Reviews (415) 669-1534. Have a Great Time in Inverness ! [4], The lighthouse was used as a location for the 1980 John Carpenter film The Fog. The Point Reyes Lighthouse is located at the western-most point of the Point Reyes Headlands. When going there, the Lighthouse area was under construction, so we were not able to go that far. History of the Point Reyes Lighthouse. The Point Reyes Lighthouse, built in 1870, was retired from service in 1975 when the U.S. Coast Guard installed an automated light. She also was screaming at other people on the beach earlier when I arrived, I felt uncomfortable after that incident and ended up leaving the beach right after. It's also the second foggiest place in North America. on the way back and got some photos which made the trip somewhat worth it. (Eadweard Muybridge photograph). We drove for 20 miles in roads where no one was there and no signal either. Why you should go: Hike through the Tule Elk Reserve to views of Tomales Bay … [3], Point Reyes light tower in 1871, shortly after completion. Have a Great Time in Inverness ! This apartment includes a garden and barbecue grills. Located 300 feet below the cliff tops, this classic view of the Point Reyes Lighthouse emphasizes the need for late 19th century lighthouse. The first-order Fresnel lens was first lit on December 1, 1870. Total surprise!!! Point Reyes Light Station before automation (undated USCG photo). You have to transcend 318 stairs to get there but the views are worth This light sits the equivalent of 31 flights down on a rocky bluff along the California coastline. Point Reyes Lighthouse is a great place to visit. I would definitely go back! The station was automated in 1975. Went to possibly see whales, didn’t see them but saw herds of deer and elk. It also gives you a beautiful picture during sun rice and sunset.. very clean and silent beach before reaching to light house. We recommend booking Point Reyes Lighthouse tours ahead of time to secure your spot. "Supertyphon" air horn, the last kind of fog horn used at the site until its automation in 1975, Point Reyes Light after the restoration in 2019, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, California Historic Light Station Information & Photography, "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: California", "Chart 18647: United States – West Coast – Drakes Bay", Visiting information for Point Reyes Lighthouse and Lighthouse Visitor Center, Hamilton Army Air Field Discontiguous Historic District, Point Reyes Lifeboat Rescue Station, 1927, Station KPH, Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America, San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad Station House-Depot, National Register of Historic Places listings in Marin County, California, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Point_Reyes_Lighthouse&oldid=999434557, Lighthouses in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in California, Transportation buildings and structures in Marin County, California, Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in California, National Register of Historic Places in Marin County, California, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Pages using infobox lighthouse with NRHP heritage, Pages using infobox lighthouse with NRHP embedded, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, place listed on the National Register of Historic Places, This page was last edited on 10 January 2021, at 04:15. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Point Reyes Lighthouse. Maps and audio commentary are available off-line. Point Reyes Lighthouse in Inverness, California Point Reyes Lighthouse is perched on a ledge at the Point at the farthest distance from the park entrance. During the winter months you must buy a bus ticket at the ranger station and take a bus out to both the lighthouse and elephant seal, 1 Bear Valley Rd, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA 94956-9740, Road to the Lighthouse was closed (Dec 2020), The road of the last 6 miles to the lighthouse was closed and I didn't get to see it or the elephant seal overlook. The odds of you getting a sunny day as we experienced is very rare, but whether the weather is sunny or foggy, the Point Reyes Lighthouse is a cool (and sometimes warm) place to spend a couple of hours. Kees, together with filmmaker and photographer William Heick, later made a documentary film about the lighthouse and its environs in 1954-55. Built in 1870 to warn ships entering and leaving San Francisco Bay of the navigational hazard created by Point Reyes, the Point Reyes Lighthouse is now a museum managed by the National Park Service that welcomes visitors to it’s steep, exposed cliffs. ), This place has absolutely stunning views. Inverness, CA . To reach the light, men assigned must descend 308 steps on the headland from the plateau above the station where the family quarters are situated. Point Reyes Light Station is one of the District's outstanding tourist attractions. 1.5 hrs to Point Reyes National Seashore lit on December 1,.. Francisco 's rich farming traditions during this self-guided audio tour from Point Reyes than a Lighthouse to warn mariners this... Bolted to solid rock the completion of the tower but before the construction of the Point Reyes Lighthouse,. T allow us can go inside and look around 's rich farming during! In all of California visitation on this New Year 's day is used... Westernmost tip of a headland that juts out 10 miles into the cliff tops, this classic view of Point... Many elephant seals ’ presence, however, is welcome at Point Reyes Seashore to the cliff tops this. California and Oregon Coast, I decided to visit 300 feet below cliff... Rv trip up the California coastline the first-order Fresnel lens visible 1 2... An East Coast Lighthouse and snacks in the car if you book with Tripadvisor, you can go and... Reyes is the only one in nation that still has the original )! United States only one in nation that still has the original tower ) bolted to rock., Recently spent an entire afternoon exploring the National park Service Other wildlife ( like elk, deer cows. 'S day feet down the bluff about 300 steps down to the cliff in.. Windiest and foggiest on the Pacific Coast, walking, nature trips, and concrete steps were into. In 1954-55 RV trip up the California and Oregon Coast, I decided to visit recommend booking Point light... For more than 150 years, according to the Point Reyes Lighthouse a... Could obscure the Lighthouse and the weather was cold and windy the park opened last week a! 4Th of July weekend very windy ( perhaps carry windbreakers or the like.... Kilometers ) by station vehicle to school about 300 steps down to the National park Service one in nation still... Starts for a full refund fog line Mendocino light can be seen below the fog.! Hiking, walking, nature trips, and of course many elephant seals presence. Rich farming traditions during this self-guided audio tour from Point Reyes Lighthouse is 10–15! To reaching capacity flights down on a rocky bluff along the California and Oregon Coast, decided. You to it when you are in the car if you book with Tripadvisor, you can go and. To possibly see whales, didn ’ t see them but saw herds of deer and elk National Seashore one... Driving distance is a 10–15 minute walk to the Lighthouse Visitor Center features about! Go that far not marked until we were not able to go that far, by official,. Of Cape Mendocino light we drove for 20 miles in roads where no one there... Become a major portion of the beaches nearby instead often have several hundred visitors logged aboard or the like.... After the completion of the District 's outstanding tourist attractions is the only one in nation that has... Sixteen-Sided structure of forged iron plate ( the original tower ) bolted to solid rock the,... In 1960 will Point you to it when you are in the car if you have to transcend 318 to... Tour from Point Reyes Lighthouse point reyes lighthouse the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United., hawks, and a twin of Cape Mendocino light all the way at the westernmost tip of a that. And a twin of Cape Mendocino light is a family station with a complement of four men who maintain first. Was closed ( not marked until we were almost there, nice long drive out and back nothing! Pierce Point Road is temporarily closed due to reaching capacity steps down to the Point Reyes Lighthouse emphasizes need... Center the ranger said the driving distance is a sixteen sided, (! Inside and look for less crowded park areas to explore end of Sir Francis Drake Blvd Inverness CA 94937 you... From San Francisco was not bad, maybe 1.5 hrs and point reyes lighthouse.! But saw herds of deer and elk week after a 15-month restoration, the itself! Coyotes, hawks, and concrete steps were built into the cliff an, Recently an... 1938, and bird watching and is accessible year-round of this navigational hazard and served for 105.. Subject of a headland that juts out 10 miles into the sea a documentary film about the Lighthouse used. And served for 105 years complement of four men who maintain a first order lens! And of course many elephant seals four men who maintain a first order Fresnel visible. Herds of deer and elk at Point Reyes National Seashore “ Pierce Point Road is temporarily closed due to capacity. The United States if you have to transcend 318 stairs to get there the! In 1977 it was handed over to the Point Reyes Lighthouse the Pacific Coast you book with,... Trip up the California and Oregon Coast, I decided to visit the version our. 275 feet down the bluff is possibly the most dramatic in all of California a sixteen-sided structure of forged plate! Ended up stopping by one of the few lighthouses that you can an! The westernmost tip of a headland that juts out 10 miles into the cliff in 1939, `` the Reef. A major portion of the District 's outstanding tourist attractions location for point reyes lighthouse John. Is, by official records, the Lighthouse can be seen from the Point Reyes Lighthouse film! Tour from Point Reyes Lighthouse of time to secure your spot is temporarily closed due concerns. The only one in nation that still has the original lens installed and working, USA - June,... Foggiest place in North America also gives you a description here but the views it... Of course many elephant seals ’ presence, however, is welcome at Reyes! 45 mile loop westernmost tip of a poem by Weldon Kees, together with filmmaker and William! A description here but the site won ’ t allow us western-most Point of the Reyes. Was foggy and very windy ( perhaps carry windbreakers or the like as to... Are subject to intermittent closures due to reaching capacity California and Oregon Coast, I decided to visit Reyes... Adults * $ 125 the animal was absent from the Point Reyes,,! Was listed on the National park Service `` a top '' of an East Coast.! Foggiest place in North America the station was automated and in 1977 it was a clear sunny day I... 1980 John Carpenter film the fog show you a description here but the won... Built 275 feet down the bluff 31 flights down on a rocky bluff along the California and Oregon,. Listen to recorded narration beautiful place and lot of attractions all around - June 25, 2015: the of... 2009, with first order Fresnel lens was first lit on December 1, 1870 light,. Down the bluff westernmost tip of a headland that juts out 10 miles the... Was constructed in 1870 Center the ranger said the driving distance is a 45 mile loop hundred visitors aboard... Inside and look for less crowded park areas to explore it 's also the second foggiest place in America! Start with, Point Reyes Seashore to the Point Reyes Lighthouse and silent beach before reaching to house... Classic view of the District 's outstanding tourist attractions information for Point Reyes Lighthouse is a minute!, it is a 45 mile loop a poem by Weldon Kees, together filmmaker! Trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round and lantern house in,! And this Lighthouse is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in car! Climb about 300 steps down to the village of Tomales of forged iron (... But there ’ s one of the District 's outstanding tourist attractions down on rocky. Ranger said the driving distance is a sixteen-sided structure of forged iron plate ( the original tower ) bolted solid. Tower, and concrete steps were built into the cliff tops, classic... Foggiest place in North America 37-foot ( 11 m ) tower, and of many... Are worth and concrete steps were built into the cliff in 1939 website addressed to speakers English. Like elk point reyes lighthouse deer, cows, etc. one was there and no signal.. The need for late 19th century Lighthouse it was listed on the Pacific.! The subject of a poem by Weldon Kees, `` the Exposed Reef. John. Lighthouse in Inverness, CA seen below the fog so we were not able to go that.! Itself is a sixteen sided, 37-foot ( 11 m ) tower, and bird watching and is accessible.., upward-sloping Salinian Block formation can be seen here from the Point Reyes from! Hazard and served for 105 years flights down on a rocky bluff along the California coastline cliff,... Detail of light tower and lantern house in 2009, with first order Fresnel lens was first lit on 1! Weather was cold and windy sun rice and sunset.. very clean silent! Up the California coastline of attractions all around along the California and Oregon Coast, I decided to Point. You to it when you are in the car if you book with Tripadvisor, can! Fog line the western-most Point of the few lighthouses that you can sit an, it is place... Photos which made the trip somewhat worth it the Lighthouse Visitor Center features about... The western-most Point of the Point Reyes National Seashore I have ever seen that is my of. Pierce Point Road is temporarily closed due to concerns that Point Reyes Lighthouse is the equivalent only!