Vantage Point

Point Arena Light Station and Gray Whales

Point Arena Light station

What's the secret for spying gray whales during winter's migration season? Location, location, location! And location doesn't get any better than from the top of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast. The historic 115-foot Lighthouse Tower at Point Arena Light Station in Mendocino County sits on a spit of land jutting two miles into the ocean and surrounded by it on three sides. (In fact, it's the closest point of land to the Hawaiian Islands in the continental United States.)

It's also one of the few lighthouses you can climb to the top of for a brilliant balcony panorama of the Pacific Coast. The lighthouse and the surrounding Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands are a prime place for up-close gray whale sightings, especially female grays and their nursing calves, who stick closer to shore during their spring return. Daytime visitors come and go, but you can also spend the night in this secluded getaway. The setting is pure Pacific Coast and a great hopping-off point to nearby Manchester State Beach and Bowling Ball Beach.

FULL MOON BONUS: Nighttime tours of the lighthouse happen during the full moon. Tickets are $30 per person or two tickets for $50. Make reservations by phone: (707) 882-2809. All proceeds go toward the support and maintenance of Point Arena Lighthouse.

Point Arena Light Station is at 45500 Lighthouse Rd. in Point Arena. Tours of the Point Arena Lighthouse run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day in winter (and 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend). Admission is $7.50 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under and includes access to the Fog Signal Building, the new home of the first-order Fresnel lens, and a trip to the top of the tower! No dogs. First photo in story by Nik Epanchin.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Screaming Good Garden

    Combine a classic scary movie backdrop and life-size elephant garden sculptures in beautiful downtown Sonoma.

    View
  3. A Hike to the Past

    This 5.2-mile redwoods hike through El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space combines a relaxing stroll with unique geologic formations and historical artifacts.

    View
  4. Golden Mile

    Dubbed the Golden Mile, this car-free stretch of road in Golden Gate Park features rotating art installations of murals, sculptures, and abundant bright yellow Adirondack chairs for kicking back to relax. See Naga, the recent new addition here, an impressive sea serpent art installation at Golden Gate Park's Rainbow

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

    View
  2. Welcome to the Ice Age

    Only in LA can you stumble upon a lake of bubbling black goo right in the middle of the city—complete with a life-size family of mammoths frozen in time. Take a whiff and you’ll catch the unmistakable scent of asphalt: Yep, you’ve made it to the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Mulholland's Most Majestic

    Take a leisurely drive along Mulholland Drive to discover beautiful urban scenery and unexpected wild beauty, right in the middle of the city. 

    View