Point Reyes Lighthouse

Our visit to the place was enhanced by the dew / moisture which flew from the Pacific allowing us to understand why the shipwreck took place in the past along with the rocky terrain which was not visible to the ships passing by before the lighthouse was established. From the point of parking to the lighthouse we have to descend 300+steps . Though these are not steep people climbing up may encounter breathlessness . However , people can rest at two places which provide spectacular sight to the Pacific Ocean. On the way to the lighthouse one can visit a canopy of Cypress trees which also houses a radio station built in 1939 sometime after Marconi invented Morse language to communicate messages . This helped the ships also to avoid coming closer to the coast . It was a remarkable experience watching the mountains and dales on the way.

Views from Point Reyes are breathtaking. From the lighthouse parking lot, the half mile hike to the lighthouse gift shop and visitor/information center is fairly easy and presents beautiful vistas in all directions. At that point, you arrive at the top of the 313 steps down to the lighthouse. The views from here were spectacular, even though pretty much all I could see was the ocean. The lighthouse is both beautiful and historically interesting. A nice & friendly ranger inside the lighthouse explained about its history and its mechanics. The hike back up was very refreshing. All together, an easy walk to & from the lighthouse with beautiful views of the National Seashore. This lighthouse is small but adorable! Point Reyes is truly a beautiful viewing point. Though the entire area is awesomely beautiful, the lighthouse was clearly the pinnacle of our visit.

Beautiful lighthouse and great views all along the path up. It's a picturesque spot and probably cooler if you could visit the lighthouse before it closed (we arrived a bit too late)

The place is absolutely beautiful and definitely worth the drive. There’s a small public parking lot with limited spaces, but you can also find parking along the road. You’ll find public restrooms near the parking area and another one along the trail to the lighthouse. There’s also a souvenir shop and an educational center nearby. The views are truly breathtaking. A few tips before you go: 1. It’s very cold and windy, so make sure to wear warm clothes and a hat. 2. The walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse is about 0.4 miles, followed by 313 stairs. Going down is easy, and on the way back up there are a few benches where you can take a break. The stairs are also quite narrow. 3. The stairs are open Thursday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. If wind speeds exceed 40 mph, the stairs will be closed for safety. 4. I suggest combining this trip with Chimney Rock and Cypress Tree Tunnel.

A great lighthouse with an intriguing history. Excellent views across the ocean when the fog clears. Staff were informative and very helpful, and the site is well maintained in general. Would happily visit again and stay longer to do some wildlife watching. There's a lot to see from the vantage point

Stunning place to view the California coast and the vast Pacific Ocean. It’s very windy and chilly even on a clear warm day. Take binoculars to see the whales and other wildlife. It’s 318 steps down to the lighthouse so be prepared. You may need to park on the road and walk a mile. There are many view points if you do though.

This is one of my top lighthouses now! Its so pretty perched down the cliff and getting to go in the light house and see the lense was great. I also enjoy the many blooming succulents, flowers and fluffy orange algae on the way down. The stairs are no joke when going back up them but they have several stops with a bench. When you park at the parking lot you do have to walk uphill on a road to get to the visitor center and stairs down. If you have an accessible ♿ parking badge you can drive up the road and park at the accessible spots by the visitor center.

The 313 stairs down to the lighthouse are open 10am - 4pm Thursday-Monday, unless the wind exceeds 40mph. It's well worth making the effort to time your visit with the stairs being open as it's a fun walk down to the lighthouse and back. There are several rest spots on the stairs if you start to feel the burn in your legs on the way up. The views are spectacular, and when I visited in April there were multiple whales visible from the lighthouse. There's a visitor center at the top of the stairs for more info, plus a couple of bathrooms. The parking lot is a short walk away along a paved road.