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| Pigeon Point Lighthouse |
A Guiding Light Since 1872
Once in a while I like to write about places that are off
the beaten path that makes the Bay Area such a unique place. If you like the
idea of a nice scenic drive along the coast, then the drive from Santa Cruz to
Half Moon Bay won’t disappoint you. Pigeon Point lighthouse is located approximately
halfway between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay and roughly 50 miles south from
San Francisco’s city center off Highway One.
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| Entrance to Pigeon Point |
I made my visit heading north on Highway One from Santa Cruz
and turned left onto Pigeon Point Road leading directly into the State Park. I
was happy to see that parking was free as well as entry into the park. I have
always been excited about lighthouses because there’s always a story, a sense
of suspense, and eeriness complimented by their beauty. However, when I walked
through the main grounds, it didn’t take me long to notice that there was a
fence around the lighthouse. Quickly my excitement subsided as it didn’t look
like I would have the chance to go inside.
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| Boardwalk to the Lighthouse |
As I walked the grounds I noticed a small gift shop located just
behind the Lighthouse, as I entered I met a nice lady who worked behind the
counter. At the park you will find volunteers who help out with the park
activities, provide tours and work in the gift shop. I asked her if they
allowed visitors to go inside the lighthouse and she quickly replied, “You
didn’t read the literature outside did you?” and soon I found myself feeling
like a schoolboy who didn’t do his homework. I reluctantly confessed that I
had not, however she shared with me the story as to why lighthouse tours were
not available.
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| A Brief History |
Unfortunately in December 2001 a large portion of tower’s
upper iron belt had broken off and fell to the ground. According to the
literature that was posted outside of the Lighthouse, this iron belt functions
like a rubber band that helps hold the tower together and therefore when the
large piece had broken off, it made the entire structure unsafe. In fact, I
had the opportunity to pick a small section of the piece that had fallen off
and I must say it was a little heavy and definitely would have ruined someone’s
day if that had fallen and hit them.
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| A Piece Broke Off |
It doesn’t take long to visit the entire park, perhaps an
hour to see everything therefore I wouldn’t make a special trip but I would
certainly make it a part of your road trip while traveling on Highway One.
Entering into the park you will find a few small structures or buildings that
have historical information about the lighthouse as well as some pictures of
the past which are very fascinating and interesting. There is a nice
semi-wooden path or boardwalk that takes you to the cliffs where you will find
a park bench to enjoy the ocean and the rocks below. While visiting I enjoyed
watching the sea lions frolicking on the rocks and soaking up some sun. I was
told by one of the Park’s volunteers that during whale watching season this
could be a great spot to watch Grey Whales passing by.
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| Lighthouse Restoration |
Something I found very interesting was the Lighthouse Keeper’s
house restored and made into a Hostel. I was surprised to see how nice this
Hostel was with some of its rooms giving spectacular ocean views. The prices
seemed reasonable too, with shared, private and family rooms. I also noticed
there was a Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean that could be rented if you stayed
there. Here is a link for those who are interested. http://norcalhostels.org/pigeon/
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| Fog Horns |
The Lighthouse was built in 1872 and is considered one of
the tallest in America boasting 115 feet high and sitting atop a 35 foot cliff
in the small town of Pescadero. The Lighthouse was used to guide mariners to
California’s Gold Country. A little history about how Pigeon Point came about
details back to 1853 when a clipper ship named the Carrier Pigeon was sailing
from Boston to San Francisco and ran aground near Whale Point or at the time
called La Punta de la Ballena. Fortunately the crew made it to safety but the
Clipper Ship was ruined and over time people referred to the area as Pigeon
Point in memory of the Carrier Pigeon.
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| Sea Lions Frolicking on the Rocks |
I really enjoyed my time there partly because the weather
was great but mostly because of the beauty and history. I encourage anyone who
passes along Highway One in the small town of Pescadero to take a look. To map
the location or set GPS, the address of the Lighthouse is 210 Pigeon Point Road
Highway One, Pescadero, CA 94060. For more specific information, visit http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=533
Travel Score:
Pigeon Point, Carrier Pigeon, Clipper Ship, Psecadero, Lighthouse
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