What do fresh oysters, whales, and a historic lighthouse have in common? They are all found along the coastline of West Marin on the bucolic Point Reyes peninsula.

Built in 1870, the Point Reyes lighthouse is a lonely outpost set on the cliffs of the peninsula's windy, fog-shrouded western tip. It was once powered by a massive French-made Fresnel lens, which sent out a bright beam that could be seen some 20 miles away. The light warned mariners about Point Reyes' rocky headlands until 1975, when it was replaced by an automated light. The National Park Service has since maintained this historic structure, preserving the legacy of an era when lightkeepers manned lighthouses up and down the coast of California.

 

January is the height of the gray whale-watching season and the lighthouse is a perfect spot to watch the leviathans on their bi-annual migration along the coast. Indeed, during our recent visit, we saw several silvery spouts and whale tails splashing the surface far in the distance, a fleeting but magical sight that delighted everyone who was scanning the ocean that day.

 

The Point Reyes Lighthouse winter hours are 10AM to 4:30PM Fridays through Mondays (closed Tuesdays through Thursdays.) On weekends and holidays, visitors are required to ride a shuttle ($7 per person) from the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach. Shuttles run from 9:30AM to 3PM. For more information, For more information, see the website of the Point Reyes National Seashore. 

Come prepared to the park! Find current operating hours, parking, walking, weather, food, and fuel information here.