Point San Luis Lighthouse

Great tour and views. I visit a lot of lighthouses and used to work at one, and I think this is the best preserved one that I've been to. You can't drive there because of the neighboring powerplant, but you park in Avila Beach and take a van up to the lighthouse. The driver we had was funny and friendly, and the drive was beautiful. We were put into a small tour group when we got there. Our tour guide was very friendly and knew a lot about the lighthouse. You get to go through the beautifully restored lantern room, bedrooms, and kitchen on the tour. You get a few minutes to check out the trails and gift shop too before the van takes you back Make sure to reserve your tickets online in advance if you want to visit

A quaint but beautiful experience. We could go inside but the walk around the grounds was tranquil and the gardens were fun to look at. There was even a rope swing that made it feel like you were swinging over the ocean. Plus the kayak trip out to it was filled with otters and seals. 10/10 would recommend!

John was our tour guide, he was very knowledgeable and told interesting stories. I enjoy touring lighthouses, and this was one of the best I've been to, as you actually get to go inside and up in the tower. The only part that's a little misleading, they say it's a 1 hour tour, but your total time is close to 2 hours; so plan accordingly. I highly recommend this tour.

This is one of the best kept secrets. The drive up and in to the lighthouse is spectacular!!! The docent Phil was very detail oriented and had extensive knowledge about the sight the family and the function.

My fiancée and I kayaked here from Avila Paddle Sports and it was a great experience. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the private beach and then another 5 minutes to walk to the lighthouse. It's a very serene place with stunning vistas. If you're looking for a fun and leisurely activity to do with friends and family, a lighthouse kayaking or paddle board trip is a must. Would definitely come back!

Very nice area and informative tour. Fun ride/shuttle up/down the hill to get to the lighthouse with great views. Well kept and maintained grounds. Quaint and charming ambience. Could have spent the whole day there admiring the surroundings.

I had the pleasure of shooting a wedding here! It was BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL and totally unique. I loved its picturesque views and historic charm and felt that it was the perfect backdrop for a wedding. The event went on without a hitch because of the wonderful, organized, kind staff! I hope to return asap!!

This was very interesting, and special to us after finding out that my grandfather was posted at this lighthouse for a little while! The docents are very knowledgeable. If you have bad knees/hips, just know you probably won't make it up to the very top of the lighthouse. But there are enough other interesting things to see to still make it worth it.

We first toured the lighthouse in July 2023 and had a very good docent lead us and tell us a lot of interesting facts. We went back on Feb 24,2024 with some guests on another tour and had a pair of elderly docents who had volunteered for more than twelve years lead our tour. Certain facts were incorrect, they mumbled sometimes or trailed off when speaking. Overall, the tour was worthwhile but could have been much more informative.

The land that surrounds the lighthouse at Point San Luis is all owned by PG&E, so there's only limited access to it. One way to get there (and the way we chose) is to take a guided tour, led by docents. The trail they led us along is pretty strenuous, but the docents allow more than sufficient rest times, and share lots of information along the way about the history, flora, and fauna of the area. Tip: The views along the trail are sometimes nothing short of breathtaking, so if you're any kind of a shutterbug, plan on frequent pauses to use your camera :-) When we arrived at the lighthouse, both the tour there and the video we were shown was both interesting and informative. We really enjoyed both our time at the lighthouse, and the hike to get there. Tip: Plan on approximately 4 hours total for the round trip and the lighthouse tour. Be sure to bring along water to drink, and maybe a little cash to buy souvenirs at the lighthouse.

Point San Luis is only available by guided tour. Tour times are limited to Wednesdays and Saturdays. A shuttle bus is taken to the lighthouse. From the bus departure to our return to the parking lot took 1-hour and 45 minutes. The $25 tour ticket grows quickly in price with additional $5.00 service and $1.65 processing fees. Aren't servicing and processing the same thing? Extra fees are annoying while redundant fees are worse. I was hoping for a more dramatic lighthouse. Perhaps something taller or prettier. The placement next door to its modern replacement took away from the romantic luster. A great job was done to restore the 1890 building but the living quarters were typical. Displaying the fog horns were a nice added benefit. The docent occasionally had trouble communicating his thoughts and repeatedly touched the Fresnel lens. Two warnings when taking this tour: 1. Climbing steep stairs and then a ladder is required to reach the top of the lighthouse. 2. The lighthouse tower was hot like a greenhouse. Eight people were packed into this tight space with no ventilation and some breathing heavily after climbing the ladder. Epidemiologists would likely categorize this situation as high risk.

Fun, interesting, informative activity. Loved learning about the history of the lighthouse and touring the rooms. Gorgeous views. Park near Avila beach and ride in a van to get to the lighthouse. The ride is on a narrow winding road and it's understandable why there's a van taking guests back and forth. Fee is $25. Tour is about an hour. Quaint gift shop on site. Guides are friendly and knowledgeable.

Truly worth the $25 admission. Just the bus ride from the parking lot would be worthy of that admission. I was terrified that we were going to fall off the cliff on that narrow road over the mountain. Quite a thrill. We had the most engaging, funny guide, Marsha, for the lighthouse and the residence. I was smiling the whole time. I'm a little disgusted at myself for not doing the last flight of steps, but then I'm old.

Hands down the best tour and tour guide at the lighthouse this summer. The driver was also super amazing on the sometimes scary drive up and down the hill to get to the lighthouse. 10 out of 10 would recommend making a vist!

Can I just say, amazing!!! This light house you might think, it just looks like a regular house, why should I spend my day hiking to get there. The answer is it is not just a regular house, it is a building full of history. There are two ways to get to the light house. One, you must sign up online for the hike because you have to pass through PG&E's property and the only way is that a docent takes you. The other is to rent a kayak and land by the lighthouse. They are only open for tours to the public on Saturdays and Wednesdays (again, it's not everyday). One more thing, you need some cash to pay a $5 donation when you get to the lighthouse. Our hike started early in the morning about 9 am and our guides were Gary and Stephanie. I suggest that you wear good hiking shoes because the terrain has loose dirt and stay on the trail at all times because there is poison oak everywhere. Be sure to take water and perhaps a small snack because we got back to the parking lot again around 1pm. Follow the rules and you should be fine. Also, if you have problems with your knees or have difficulty walking I do not recommend it. You can actually skip the hike and take a trolley (I believe Gary said it was $10, but I wasn't sure if it was both ways or $10 each way, ask when you make your reservations). Gary was a great guide, he is very knowledgeable about the area and the lighthouse. You walk at a steady pace and you stop to learn about trees, plants, terrain, and history about the family that lived in the lighthouse and how the children used to walk the same path to get to school There are some resting points and the whole hike (to the lighthouse and back) is about 3 miles. I learned that in Avila Beach they used to hunt and kill whales for their oil and that Avila Beach would be red from the blood. The lighthouse was remodeled, but it is still have the original hardwood floors and many other things. When you get to the lighthouse there is also a small souvenir shop. You get to tour the house and all the way to the top where the light used to be. I won't tell you more about it because I don't want to spoil the fun! I'd rather you hear it from your guides. P.S. wear sunscreen and watch your step and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

This is a neat place to visit when you are in the area. Tours are $25 and are done on Saturdays. After meeting in a isolated dirt parking lot, a van takes you on a nerve-racking, but breathtaking, single track ride up and over the mountains to get to the light house. At times, you are 440 feet above sea level with nothing but a sheer cliff between you and the water. Awesome, but not for anyone that gets car sick, or is faint of heart. The lighthouse tour itself is pretty cool. Very nostalgic. The docents that we had, Char and Mike Hoffman were wonderful at providing information and at answering questions. There was a wedding at the location later that day, and they kept apologizing for hurrying us along, but we never felt as though they were. Well worth the $25. Only negative: when we exited the van after the drive up, we were greeted by a woman with a clip board. During her introductory spiel, she asked the group to show, by a raise of hands, who has had the COVID vaccine. She then thanked the people that raised their hands for "being safe and concerned for all of us" just before she shot the rest of us the most scornful, hateful look. It wasn't appropriate for her to ask that question, and it was even more inappropriate to outwardly shun those of us that haven't had the vaccine yet. She needs to go.

I must stay alone and know that I am alone to contemplate and feel nature in full; I have to surrender myself to what encircles me, I have to merge with my clouds and rocks in order to be what I am. Caspar David Friedrich I think of The Monk by the Sea by Caspar David Friedrich when I think of lighthouses. I imagine lighthouses and their keepers to be solitary figures before the vastness of nature. I was excited to learn you can go inside the Point San Luis Lighthouse. There are tours on a cute trolley or you can hike up the hill to visit the lighthouse. Built in 1890. Keeper's quarters and lighthouse are in a single building. Restored and maintained by the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers beginning in 1995. On the ride up to the lighthouse there are good views of Whaler Island. View from the grounds of the lighthouse was incredible. Craftsmanship throughout the lighthouse was impeccable. Kitchen had the original appliances and pieces of coal for the stove. Original furniture was in all the rooms. Nice seeing kid toys from the child that use to live here. Would have loved living here when I was a kid. I have been fascinated by flashlights and light in general since I found my parents flashlight. I use to go into the night and shine light into the dark places. Coolest part of the tour was climbing to the top of the lighthouse and seeing where the light shown to keep sailors safe from the rocks below. Tour was very educational explaining how the lighthouse operated and how the keepers lived in days long gone by. That would have been the life, waiting at the edge of the sea as the sun set and it came time to turn on the light that would send spokes of illumination out into the darkness.

Pecho Coast Trial to the Point San Luis Lighthouse is a great hike, one of the best in the area. The panoramic views of San Luis Obispo Bay below are dramatic, the hike is led by staff knowledgeable in local biology and history, and the lighthouse is one of a kind, perched as it is on the extreme point, basking in the mild California sunshine. My wife and I did it together, and it was a nice time for us. I can't say enough good things about the hike. It's just a little inconvenient due to being owned by a large corporation, PG&E. The hikes are docent led only, and only on Wednesday and Saturday. Advanced planning is required, since it is such a beautiful hike. It does fill up quickly, and reservations can be made online. The other inconvenience (for us) was that they don't allow any children on the hike under 9 years old. We are a very outdoorsy family, and my kids were hiking the round trip Yosemite Falls trail when they were 6 (approx 7 miles). We enjoy hiking as a family, and this trail was denied to us due to what I assume is PG&E's fears of some type of lawsuit. Be that as it may, a great little hike (3.75 miles round trip) if you're in the area and were smart enough to do some advance planning

Due to COVID, one can not visit the Point San Luis Lighthouse in person at this time. I recently attended a "virtual" tour of the Lighthouse and surrounding buildings. Our docent Kathy did a fantastic job, calm and nice voice, taking her time but still moving along. Knowledgeable about the history and answered questions in detail. I very much appreciated the "pauses" to allow for questions. I have been on a "live" tour going up in the shuttle bus in the past but on this virtual tour you see different nuances. Virtual Tours Online are held on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM. You will need to buy a $10 ticket in advance, so worth the money and helps maintain local historic buildings. To purchase tickets, access the link below http://pointsanluislighthouse.org/

Got married here in June and it was everything I could have ever dreamed of. When I searched online for wedding venues I thought this place was too good to be true but it's the real deal. I felt like I had a million dollar venue on a real girl budget! Deb was so helpful it was like having a wedding planner. There are so many places to take amazing photos, even a private beach! But the cliff photos were my favorite. This place will always have a special place in our hearts and highly recommend!

As a recent highlight to our re-retirement and consequential 'local touristing', my wife and I FINALLY got around to taking the Point San Luis Lighthouse tour. WOW! WHY did it take up so long? This time of year, and in the middle of the week, we found that taking the last tour of the day to be the best, mainly because the tour guides/docents are not under pressure to get one tour done and ready-up for the next. Our guide, John Phillips, was absolutely the best! Extremely informative without being boring, punctuating his presentation with a good wry humor, we were able to spend just the right amount of time at each area, and, because we were the last tour, there were probably some extras that we were privileged to be a part of, such as a brief tour of the lower cellar area, and if you have the strength and agility, the light tower itself! For those who enjoy local history and historic sites, this is certainly one of the best of the hidden treasures of the Central Coast. The trolley ride from the parking lot across from the 'dog beach' takes you through the 'forbidden gates' of the Diablo Canyon nuclear facility and up a narrow, winding road up the side of the hill, and features awesomely spectacular views of Old Port San Luis, Avila Beach and surrounding areas. For those with the physical ability, this road runs almost parallel to a 2 mile hiking trail that terminates at the lighthouse area, as well. This is definitely something to NOT MISS if you are ever up on the Central Coast, and because we live about 15 miles from here, we can enjoy this whenever we like!! Jealous yet?

Went up for a concert, completely understaffed with shuttles. Waited an hour in the parking lot for 1 of only 2 shuttle buses.. But sooooooooo beautiful once you get here! Amazing!!!!

We finally did the tour! The lighthouse is a hidden gem on the Central Coast. If you have difficulty walking and going up and down stairs I would not recommend. You view a short movie and the docent tour is very well done. Based on the time of year you might see whales pass by! I highly recommend!

Don't miss this great piece of Avila history. Fun trolley ride, picturesque views, interesting history. Our docent Bob was excellent. The tour started out with informative video presentation. We were able to walk around the light house, the keeper's residence, see the Frensnel light that used to be in the actual light house.

I personally love light houses and the back in time feeling, while bringing to life the past families and how they once lived. Excellent restoration job, fabulous views and ongoing grounds improvements. Hats off to the tireless volunteer, heart and soul hours spent on this worthwhile project. We took the trolley tour, the reason for 4 stars is the docent that led us thru the caretaker house and light tower, was not very good.......... Worthwhile to be sure when on the central coast!

Thanks to my fellow Yelpers my freind and I stumbled across this place while on a weekend getaway to the Central Coast. I'm a big fan of old Americana and this place fit the bill perfectly! You have to call or visit their website ahead of time in order to get reservations, I was able to book two tickets on a Saturday morning for a tour later that afternoon. the tour starts-out in a vacant lot a few miles away from the actual Lighthouse where you leave your car and get on a bus which was too small (by one) for the amount of people that were on our tour (good thing I don't mind standing). The drive (from what I saw of it) is a pretty scenic drive through PG&E's property adjacent (but seven miles) from the Diablo Canyon Nuclear plant (no tours offered). Once we arrived at the Lighthouse (about a 20 minute ride) we were split into two groups and led around the grounds and the interior of the Lighthouse which has been restored back to the way it was in 1890 when it was built. I was impressed with all the work the Light House Keepers have done (they show lots of before and after photos from when they took it over in 1995). The highlight of the tour for me was going-up into the tower (which here isn't very tall because it's on a cliff) where the light used to be. The light is now stored in a building adjacent to the Gift Shop (you know they had to have one). You're given about an hour to walk around as part of the tours before the bus sounds a horn and it's time to head back-down the hill. I'll definitely check it out again the next time I'm in the area!

So so beautiful!! We had our wedding here & our big day was perfect! Staff was fantastic at helping where we needed & the view was stunning!! It's perfect for small weddings. Wouldn't change a thing about our big day & the view in pictures is amazing. Thanks Point San Luis lighthouse for everything!

As much as I would like to rate 0 stars, I have to give credit to the actual venue itself. Gorgeous location, beautiful views, unique historic venue, and perfect for a intimate wedding. However, with that being said... customer service and overall experience was absolutely horrendous. I attended a wedding at this venue yesterday and was there all day long. The woman "running the show", so to speak was utterly awful. Not only did she stalk around harassing the bride the entire day. Constantly interrupting her getting ready to bark orders, and nit pick everything. The last thing that ANY bride needs, is to be stressed out by her venue on the day of her wedding. She was extremely unpleasant and her attitude was completely uncalled for. At the end of the evening, she refused to run the trolly down for the guest that HAD to leave. For those of you who do not know, that is the only way to come and go, by trolly. Basically forcing you to remain prisoner there. The mother of the bride asked her to take people back down the hill and she did not want to comply. Claiming that it was $5 a head and implying it was unimportant to her that we NEEDED to leave. In fact, She did not send the first trolly down until over an hour later. She was extremely unprofessional and truly impacted the entire family's day. While the venue is amazing, the experience was not... Which is completely unfortunate.

The Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers have done a wonderful job in the restoration of the lighthouse. Definitely plan on going back to see it progress.

We recently had our wedding ceremony at San Luis Point Lighthouse and it was amazing! The entire planning process was smooth. Deb Foughty was extremely responsive, accommodating and helpful. By the day of the event, I felt confident that it was going to be perfect. Our guested were amazed as we drove up the windy hill to get to the lighthouse, with the expansive views. The ceremony site is on a second tier of the property and looks out to the ocean like an infinity pool. I cannot say enough good things about the location as well as Deb.

Kayak from the pier to here instead of driving if you can. Such a nice find. Lighthouse is quaint and not as tall as others. I've seen. This area is full of sea life, don't have to look hard at all.

KAYAKERS DENIED ENTRANCE- do NOT go if you have arrived via water craft. Use the funky little expensive trolley thing - then with approval you MAY get the "nod" from 'queen lighthouse'. After hearing about the neat historical lighthouse and beautiful scenery we decided to land our rented kayaks on the beach and take a walking tour of the historical lighthouse and museum. To be clear, our family of 4, (2 adults 12 and 13 y/o) were: 1. FULLY clothed - no bathing suits; 2. Not wet; 3. Not sandy (10 minute paved walk from beach); 4. Not being unruly, loud or disrespectful in any way. 5. Not armed with spray paint or other items of potential destruction. We were told by a retired volunteer, that "KAYAKERS weren't allowed in - because they are wet and sandy- but you can look in the window to the museum". Woo hoo! Awesome - thanks again angry cranky old California state volunteers -mission accomplished! Crush out the interest for local history, in interest of being in control and unwilling to communicate effectively. In the future- here's a thought: The people you are keeping out- are the SAME people who will eventually vote to tear old, insignificant relics down to make room for vacation homes and trinket shops. This WILL happen if not given an understanding and education about items of interest. To avoid this: Just give people the ability to dust any sand off; Institute no shirt no shoes no services; and Explain you need to be dry to enter and why it's important.

This place is awful!! Went by paddle board on a Saturday with some co-workers, were greeted by some nice older ladies who told us to feel free and look around. Then while roaming around the charming lighthouse, were approached twice from some rude ass cranky old men and told to leave! (Probably because we were under the age of 65?)

Love the historic lighthouse and it is so nice that there are ways for the whole fam to see it and enjoy. We went once by kayak, once by hike (docent led), and another with all our family and friends on the open air trolley to the lighthouse. It was so picturesque and the lighthouse has been fully restored. Docent friendly and a store on site with trinkets to boot. Hikes & Trolley are both on Wed & Sat. but you should make reservations in advance, especially in the summers months. I recommend bringing a picnic basket to go on the tour and then enjoy the site at a leisurely pace. You can make special arrangements for both. One person on my group hiked in and took the trolley out with all of us. We had the best of both worlds for our friends and family. They thought we had planned the perfect day. Check it out at http:// www.sanluislighthouse.org

What a hidden gem the Point San Luis Lighthouse is. Check-in with Jack was seamless and efficient. We toured this afternoon with the informative and knowledgeable John. The scenic (and occasional switchback) journey was amazing. We even saw some whale spouts as we arrived on property. Who would have guessed this beautiful bit of history was hidden in the hills and cliffs of Point San Luis. The $20 fee is well worth it to support this amazing non-profit. Whether you are a local or you've come a long distance, spend 2 hours or so on this gorgeous piece of the Central Coast of California.

Not as promised. Wanted to take my family and mother to the lighthouse as part of a Christmas gift. Purchased tickets for 8 @ 40.00 per person. Regular price is 20.00 per person. I was told the lighthouse would be decorated for Christmas have people dressed in period clothing and a guided tour. Well the only thing we got for the extra 20.00 was some snacks, wine (which we did not drink) and some band playing some music. NO GUIDED TOUR.I emailed Jesse Roberts Executive Director of the lighthouse and told him our experience and he said there was a video, tour and all the other stuff and he himself showed the video. HAHA. I have had several emails with Jesse and when I asked where the video was being shown and where to meet for the tour he did not tell me which means there was none. I have asked for half my money back and he quit responding. Don't get me wrong the lighthouse is an awesome place to visit and worth $20.00 per person as they do need to keep it up but I would NEVER pay the 40.00 they as for during the month of December On another note the swing on the Eucalyptus tree is great fun for kids and kids at heart

Had a great time. Fun "trolley" ride to the lighthouse with great driver and great docents when you get there. Note: The link to the website posted here on yelp is old and not correct and you won't be able to book tickets through it. Use this. http://pointsanluislighthouse.org/tour/

Amazing venue for special celebrations. Deb runs a class operation and the staff are amazing. We had a special birthday celebration which was greatly enhanced by this special place. Beautiful and breath taking

We did the 3.75 hike round trip. It was a perfect morning for a walk. The docents did a great job of explaining history and geology.

I recently had my wedding at point San Luis lighthouse. Beware of DEB! . Beautiful scenery but, the venue coordinator(Deb) was very hard to work with and was very unprofessional. When we first booked the venue we were working with a guy named Jess. He was very laid back. We liked that about him. About 3 months before our wedding we found out he got fired. The woman who replaced him was very, very unprofessional. She told us details of him being fired. We didn't need to hear any of the behind the scenes. Lucky for us a good family friend stepped up to be my wedding coordinator, and work along side Deb. She took a lot of crap from Deb. Deb asked MY wedding coordinator to do things basically she ( Deb) didn't want to do. My wedding coordinator ( & her husband) being professional did anything and everything to make sure I had the wedding of my dreams! During set up time before the wedding one of my friends was setting up our dessert bar and Deb walked in and started helping herself to our desserts. After our wedding when my mom and friends stayed to clean up; Deb also tried to tell my mom that our caterer left all the left over food for her and her staff for their lunch the following day. This left my mom baffled. I could go on & on about how rude and unprofessional Deb was. Her side comments were almost always negative. If you have your wedding there just be aware of who you are working with. Also, know Deb will ask you, or your coordinator to do things that she needs to have her staff (volunteers) do.

Friendly and knowledgable staff, and an overall great experience. Had fun with my family taking a tour and checking out the history of the Light House. The views are spectacular and the trolley ride up is a ton of fun! Will definitely be back.

Public tours via trolly access or hike, kayak or paddleboard. Private events are are available by scheduling. Also great Mother's Day event and Victorian Valentines Day as a special treat to Mom or your significant other! During the season, the whales travel close to the bluff and occasionally into the bay (if you are lucky!). Beautiful restoration of the historic structures!

This was my second visit to the Port San Luis Lighthouse. The first time my husband and I took the trolley and enjoyed learning about the history of the lighthouse keepers, the surrounding areas and the views are awsome! My second visit (today) I took the hike to the lighthouse with family. The hike is moderate with lots of upward hills and downward stairs. It is beautiful and easy enough for kids and older folks, but it does help to be in good shape or at least a regular hiker/walker. The docent is always knowledgable and makes this tour very worthwhile! I love Avila Beach! :)

During December, the docents put on a great spread. With carolers, wine and goodies. The tour was good and the volunteer docents well trained and interesting. The ticket process was a downer as we were signed up for the wrong tour. The instructions for where and when to show up were unclear. The view was great and the restoration outstanding. When you go, don't forget the tree swing.