Pigeon Point Lighthouse — A Beacon that thwarted many a Shipwreck

I think I first saw Pigeon Point Lighthouse several years ago when we were driving up the coast after visiting the hibernating and molting elephant seals of Año Nuevo State Park in California. I’d taken a drive-by shot of the handsome towering building and swore to check it out sometime later.

That ‘later’ happened just before the pandemic took over our lives. We had been hiking up to Wilbur’s watch, a scenic coastal trail in San Mateo county when I spotted Pigeon Point, one more time. You can see it from the parking lot of the trailhead and then as you ascend the coastal hill, you never lose sight of it. It can be seen from the top, where the trail ends too.

It was a grey day and the fog kept curtaining the lighthouse every few minutes and this kept happening all morning. Then towards noon we went and took a closer look at this tower that saved a lot of ships that sailed this way.

The lighthouse at Pigeon Point

Pigeon Point Lighthouse stands on a rocky promontory on the Pacific Coast near San Mateo in California. The wild rocks here — 50 miles south of San Francisco — have been responsible for many a shipwreck.

This headland here was once called Punta de las Ballenas or Whale Point. It came to be known as Pigeon Point after Carrier Pigeon wrecked here in the year 1853. Since then many ships met devastation here, and many lives have been lost on this craggy coast.

It was in 1872 that Pigeon Point Lighthouse was erected. Since then, with its fog signals, lard-oil beacon, steam whistle, and later a Fresnel lens, went on to thwart many a wreck near here.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse stands at a height of 115 ft., which itself is on a bluff that rises 50 from the Ocean. It is still one of the tallest lighthouses on the west coast of the United States. This lighthouse on Pigeon Point that has operated with lard oil, kerosene and electric lighting is still in operation; now using bright LED lights.

What to see and do at Pigeon Point Lighthouse

1. Look up at the Lighthouse
   
   You can get close to the lighthouse and look around. The Lighthouse itself is closed after parts of its cast-iron bracing fell off in 2001. This tower beside the mighty Pacific that has withstood the elements all these years, still hopes to undergo renovation and open to the public, sometime.
   
2. See the Fresnel Lens
   
   Another big attraction here is the Fresnel Lens that played hero here in the lighthouse at Pigeon Point. This French-made lens is known for its 1008 prisms and 24 bull’s eye panels and the light from it was visible up to 25 miles into the ocean. The lens rotated and flashed a white light every 10 seconds, preventing many shipwrecks in this dangerous area.
   
   The lens that was used here since 1872 is now on display in the fog signal building beside the lighthouse.
   
3. Take in views of the Pacific Ocean
   
   From the cliffs here, you get to see sweeping views of the craggy coast and the Pacific Ocean, provided there is no fog.
   
4. Stay at the Lighthouse Hostel
   
   Yes, you can stay here too. There’s a hostel/vacation rental beside the lighthouse on Pigeon Point.
   

Other things to do near Pigeon Point:

— Hike to Wilburs Watch
— See Elephant Seals at Ana Nuevo State Park
— Explore Butano State Park
— Relax at Half Moon Bay
— Hang out at the many beaches in the area

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