Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
About
Perched on a cliff on the central California coast, the 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the tallest lighthouses in America. Its five-wick lard oil lamp and first-order Fresnel lens, comprised of 1,008 prisms, was first lit at sunset on Nov. 15, 1872. The lens stands 16 feet tall, is 6 feet in diameter and weighs 2,000 pounds. The lens sat in a lantern room constructed at the Lighthouse Service’s general depot in New York before being shipped around the Horn. Although the original Fresnel lens is no longer in use, the lighthouse is still an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation using a Vega Marine Rotating Beacon.
The coastal areas surrounding Pigeon Point Light Station are rich with life. Marine mammals, such as seals and whales, can be seen regularly from shore as they pass by beyond the surf. The intertidal zone along this part of the coast, particularly in the rocky reefs that flank the light station, contains a diverse and numerous variety of plant and animal life.
A small public beach is located 100 yards from the main parking lot.
Learn more in the California State Parks brochure.
Directions
The lighthouse is located at 210 Pigeon Point Road, off Highway 1 just south of the town of Pescadero. It is about 35 miles north of Santa Cruz and 50 miles south of San Francisco.
Things to do
Interpretive ProgramsHalf-hour guided history walks around the lighthouse grounds are available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday, when staffing permits.
Historical ExhibitsAlthough the lighthouse is closed for repairs, there are historical exhibits to view on the park grounds.
Wildlife ViewingAbout 50 species of migratory and native birds live here, including marbled murrelets, an endangered species that nests in nearby old-growth redwood forests and feeds in coastal waters. Tide pools area short walk north of Pigeon Point.
Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is open Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ParkStore
The bookstore is open Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fees and Passes
Parking is free.
Services
- Services
- Restrooms
- Visitor Center
- Accessibility: The boardwalk, the Fog Signal Building, exhibits and gift shop are accessible, as are parking, restrooms and the picnic area near the park entrance.
- Visitor Center and Bookstore
- Interpretive programs
- Pay phone
- Gift shop
Camping
Hosteling International runs the Pigeon Point Hostel for guests who are interested in staying overnight.
Volunteer
California State Parks is looking for volunteers interested in working at the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast—the historic 115-foot tall Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Docent training begins Sept. 25, 2021 email to reserve your spot!
History
Pigeon Point Lighthouse Station State Historic Park is in the unceded homelands of the Ohlone Tribe known as the Quiroste, who stewarded these lands since time immemorial. Centuries of colonial violence led to the removal and displacement of the Quiroste. Today, their descendants continue their stewardship and presence here, in partnership with State Parks.
Pigeon Point’s original name, Whale Point, was inspired by the gray whales that migrate past the point. California’s boom from Gold Rush to statehood brought many ships to these perilous waters. The clipper ship “Carrier Pigeon”, on her maiden voyage in 1853, ran into fog-blanketed rocks off Whale Point. The point was renamed Pigeon Point to honor the wrecked ship. Learn more.
The Pigeon Point Light Station sits on a rocky bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean that has survived thousands of years of ocean waves and storms due to the resistant geology of the underlying bedrock. Learn more about the geology of the area.
California State Parks announced in Fall 2019 it is one-step closer to restoring a shuttered icon of the California Coast – the Pigeon Point Lighthouse that has been closed to the public for almost 20 years. The department is dedicating $9.157 million to the Upper Lighthouse Stabilization and Restoration Project.
Work on the lighthouse began in Spring 2020 with the restoration of the Fog Signal Building. The building’s exterior walls, siding, windows and drainage were repaired to waterproof and restore it. The fog horns and their rusted braces were also removed, restored, and reinstalled. This phase of the restoration was funded by two local cooperating associations: a $125,000 donation from Coastside State Parks Association and a $125,000 donation from Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, for a total of $250,000.
“We’re pleased to have helped move this important historic restoration forward during this difficult time, so visitors can learn about our past and consider a brighter future,” said Bonny Hawley, Executive Director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.
Read the complete State Parks press release here.
Perched on the central California coast, 50 miles south of San Francisco, the 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the tallest lighthouses in the country and has been guiding mariners since 1872. The five-wick lard oil lamp and first order Fresnel lens, comprised of 1,008 prisms, was first lit at sunset, Nov. 15, 1872. The lens stands 9 feet in diameter and weighs 2,000 pounds. It is now on display in the fog signal building. Although the original Fresnel lens is no longer in use, the lighthouse is still an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation using a Vega Marine Beacon.
The entire restoration project is estimated to cost approximately $16 million. Completed, in-progress and proposed restoration work to date includes:
- A new roof on the office and oil room at the base of the tower in December 2018.
- Refurbishment and lead abatement in the office and oil room, allowing limited public tours in late 2018 and August 2019.
- Ongoing development of new exhibits in the oil bunker.
- Planned addition of benches and restoration of picket fence around existing structures.
- Planned restoration of the fog signal building exterior, foghorn trumpets and attached viewing deck.
- Planned stabilization of the upper tower of the lighthouse.
For public safety, the lighthouse at Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park will continue to remain closed until the structure can be restored, but it may still be viewed from the grounds daily. The interpretive center in the fog signal building is open Thursday through Monday each week. The lighthouse was closed to the public on December 2001 when a section of the iron belt course fell from the top of the tower to the ground 100 feet below.
Regulations
- Except for service animals, pets are not permitted on the lighthouse grounds.
- Smoking is not permitted in the park.
Recreate Responsibly
Before you visit, check the Recreate Responsibly page to protect yourself, family, friends and your community by following these measures during your visit.
More Info
(650) 879-2120 Thursday through Monday