Picture-perfect Point Reyes Lighthouse

My trying to see the Point Reyes Lighthouse was not unlike the long flight of steps that led down to it. If you’ve read my previous post on this place, you might remember how I wished to see this picture-perfect sight and how the Pacific fog came in and foiled my plans. That was in 2013. 

Since then, trying to get tipsy from the trip to Point Reyes Lighthouse has been like an unattainable dream. Before I got to re-plan that trip, I had to pack my bags and we were gone from CA for close-to 2 years. When we were back, I wasn’t feeling confident enough to walk all that way with a toddler. When she was ready for the trip the lighthouse closed down for a renovation that went on for around a year (or more). I’d been checking every few weeks to see if it was open and finally a month back I came across an IG post that made me smile. And in the first week of 2020, that dream to see the lighthouse finally saw the light of day. 

How to get to the lighthouse

This time around, we were directed to Drakes Beach, from where we were to take a shuttle to the lighthouse. The bus ride seemed long. Or was it my impatience to see the structure, I wonder. Don’t get me wrong — it was a pleasant, scenic ride. This time, there was no fog. Even in the fog, it was a beautiful drive (the last time we were here), I remember we could see only a few meters of the road ahead of us as the gentle hills and the road that meandered through them were clothed in fog. I remember seeing the silhouettes of deer in the whiteness of the place. 

Now without all that fog, the journey to the lighthouse showed me rich green meadows with cows grazing on them. Every now and then not far from the cattle were the Tule Elk, also taking in their share of the green goodness of Point Reyes Peninsula. A lovely picture of coexistence in California’s Coastal Prairies. At one point we saw a whole herd of elk going about their day seemingly oblivious or not wanting to acknowledge the visitors to the area. 

The shuttle dropped us off by the Lighthouse Parking lot and then we began that lovely walk up to the lighthouse visitor center, half a mile away. Since it was a clear day we got to see the North Beach (which was not visible the last time we were there). It was great to walk through that canopy of windswept trees, another postcard-perfect sight of the area. 

And there it was: Point Reyes Lighthouse

My heart skipped a beat when we got to the top of the steps that go down to the lighthouse. There at the bottom of the long, straight stairway was one of the finest visuals — a quaint little lighthouse perched on a rocky ledge. And for a background there was the shimmering surface of the largest ocean in the world. 

A yellow board begging for attention (one is quite likely to miss it because of the awesomeness of the lighthouse far down below) seemed to warn us about the expedition we were about to embark on. “There is strenuous effort required to climb these stairs, which are equivalent to a 30-story building, ” it said. But the call of the setting below was stronger. 

The way up was seemingly longer. But wasn’t it SO WORTH IT!

And while we were down there, we enjoyed the views from the observation deck, walked around the lighthouse and even got to peek into that tiny little lighthouse that dates back to 1870. 

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What you need to know to trip to Point Reyes Lighthouse 

• From late December to mid-April, you will not be allowed to drive all way to the parking lot of the lighthouse. You take a shuttle from Drakes Beach. 
• Tickets can be purchased from the Ken Patrick visitor center on the beach. 
• The parking lot by the visitor center is larger than the one for the lighthouse and can accommodate a whole of cars. 
• Carry enough water for the walk. Remember it isn’t just the .4 mile hike to the lighthouses visitor center. There’s also the walk down to the lighthouse itself and the uphill trip from there. 
• Extra layers of clothing are a must. Even if it is a clear day, the wind from the Pacific Ocean might be strong and cold. 
• Don’t forget your cameras/cellphones. And make sure you have enough storage space & charge in your batteries.  It is a place like no other. You are going to want to bring back a lot of pictures.
• You might want to check for fog in the forecast. If it is a foggy day, you will be prohibited to go down those steps leading to the lighthouse. (But you’ll still have a great walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse visitor center.)

Linking to:
Our World Tuesday
&
My Corner of the World

You might also want to see:
Point Reyes on a Foggy Day
North Beach, Point Reyes Peninsula

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Come, Trip with us. 😉