Good walk to get out there from the parking lot all the way out to the light station. instructions- you're supposed to leave your car in the first parking lot, don't drive it all the way to the lighthouse because that road has a pedestrians only sign. lighthouse itself is very clean and well maintained, compared to others ive seen along the california coast. very much cared for. interesting free museum inside that building. you cant go up but you can look around the first floor read more

See all

During weekends, the Cabrillo Light Station does full-on tours of the lighthouse all funded by volunteers. It entails walking about a flatish half mile (one way) on a paved road to the lighthouse, ending in panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, a couple of picnic tables, and even some cabins to rent, if staying a couple of days to unwind is part of the plan! On a Sunday morning after a canoe paddle down the Big River, we did the half-mile trek to the lighthouse. It was fairly busy, with 3 or 4 groups ahead of us. On the tour, volunteer guides on each of the four levels explain the need for the lighthouse, its inner workings, and how innovation and technology changed it over the years. There are four levels to climb: after the first flight with two handrails, there is only one handrail up the steps, making it a great core workout in addition to a historic and informational experience! After (or before) the tour, wander around the museum/gift shop, where there is a souvenir for every lighthouse aficionado to buy sprinkled with more historic information and pictures not only of the lighthouse, but also of the surrounding environment and wildlife. If lighthouses are your jam, the weekend is a great time to go with the tour, museum/gift shop, and even a place to stay if you want! Convenient to downtown Mendocino, after the tour, the charming downtown is a great place to grab a bite and do some shopping! Young and old alike, this is a great experience! read more

One of the magical places on the Mendocino coast. Cabrillo Lighthouse Station has been on the north western shore for over 100 years. The Fresnel lens of the lamp make this lighhouse a special one as these types are rarely used any more and are disappearing. Restored and maintained, this facility is opened daily at 11:00 and the grounds are open from sunrise to sunset. It's a popular spot for whale watching (Nov-Apr) as well as exploring the rugged coastline, including the site of the Frolic shipwreck from 1850. The lighthouse was damaged and flooded in January of 2023 when a series of high waves from the storm crashed through the buildings ocean side doors. Making it a part of the storm history of this lighthouse, which had been only hit with waves ever on two other occasions, December of 1928 and February of 1960. The grounds are dog friendly, on leash. The lighthouse staff are knowledgeable and friendly. The lighthouse museum is free to enter. Donations are encouraged and welcomed. We spent about two hours there reading the local history inside the museum, which there is a lot and exploring the lighthouse and outside grounds. 4.5 Stars rounded up for the spectacular views 01199 read more

See all

We stayed in the lighthouse keepers cottage and had an amazing time!!! We saw so much wildlife both on shore and in the sea. Highly recommended for a wonderful R&R romantic getaway!!! The staff is so helpful as well!!! read more

See all

To get to this lighthouse it's about a mile walk from the parking lot. I'm all for walking and hiking but that could be a dealbreaker for some just wanting to swing by and see it. The background is beautiful and there is lots of room for photos of the ocean. The lighthouse is quite small but has a little gift shop inside. Tours up to the lens are a couple of times a month. Before the lighthouse there's a little compound with the old keepers' quarters which you can walk into and check out. If in the Mendocino/Fort Bragg area and only time for one lighthouse I think this one is better for being closer to town (Point Arena is about an hour drive) and for available trails to go on a walk after the lighthouse. If you want something more of a tall statuesque lighthouse where there are tours throughout the day to the top and you don't have to walk a mile from the car I'd recommend Point Arena. read more

See all

This is a nice spot ti check out. It was my first time visiting a lighthouse actually, but the setting is very peaceful. You can enjoy the scenery of the Pacific Ocean as it displays crashing waves and also check out some other cool stuff such as the gift museum and light keepers house. The light keeper house you can see displays of how life was years ago. The museum shows a lot of interest facts and other stuff. So it can be relaxing and educational at the same time. It's a bit of a walk if you don't have a handicap placard or a residential guest just so you know. But it gives you time to take it all in. read more

See all

Beautiful!! We parked and walked along lighthouse road. There were restrooms by the light keepers museum that were very clean. We continued the walk to the lighthouse and the staff inside the gift shop were very kind. She gave our dogs treats! They also had a dog water bowl outside. We followed along the cliffs on a trail that eventually looped back to the parking lot. We took a short detour down to the beach access where there is a tiny little waterfall. We were lucky enough to have the beach to ourselves. They have EV parking and restrooms in the parking lot. I recommend pants if you plan to do the trail around the loop. read more

Point Cabrillo Light Station - Trail sign - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mendocino, California

See all

It is a sight that is great to learn about the history of the area. It's a quick walk from the parking lot on a flat paved road. The tour of the lighthouse will take about 10 minutes. I was bummed that access to the top is not available. We walked around the grounds and went inside the lightkeeper's house. There are bathrooms. read more

Point Cabrillo Light Station - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mendocino, California

Beautiful area, park up at the start of the paved walk. Road is blocked by a sign "no entrance", the walk down (1/2 mile) is paved, they are trying to limit the traffic impact on local wildlife. You'll pass 3 houses that are available to rent the first has 6 picnic benches & the 3rd has none- maybe it is adjusted by group size? The aquarium has all kinds of information and animals / sea life w descriptions. The lighthouse has a gift store with a delightful docent to answer questions. Donate if you can, this lovely place, has a box for contributions. Also check out the Point Arena lighthouse and tour. Go south on Hwy 1 to Pt Arena. read more

See all

Beautiful lighthouse! Easy walk on the grounds and so peaceful and lovely. Parking was easy. read more

See all

Nice little visit to the area. It's about a 1/2 mile walk to the lighthouse or you can walk about a mile to where the ocean is, looks like tide pools, ocean cliffs. I opted for the latter. Nice easy going walk down gravel, dirt trail. Stay on the trail, there are signs posted indicating high tick area (for you or your dogs). Plenty of room to hike to and from with room for people to pass either way. Dogs must be on leashes, plenty of places for them to go potty. Be respectful, bring poop bags and pickup after your dogs. This trail is super clean, free of garbage avid dog waste, keep it clean. Great parking as you come into the park. Electric vehicle charging station at entry and main parking lot. There's a gift shop but I didn't visit it nor did I visit the lighthouse. There is a museum and sea / ocean / lighthouse exhibit; I've been there before, so I skipped them. Picturesque, nice walk with great photo opportunities. Limited wildlife observed but heard birds, saw remnants of rabbits or deer. Nice way to enjoy your day, quiet, very little people on a holiday, able to walk fast and get your heart rate up if desired. read more

As someone who's been to a good handful of lighthouses, I have to admit I was pretty disappointed by this one. It was super small and a mostly covered up for painting and repairs. It was a good trek out to the lighthouse from the parking lot at 1/2 mile there on the paved trail, or 3/4 miles on the unpaved "hiking" trail. We opted for the quicker paved trail as we had just completed a 5 mile hike before visiting. There seemed to be quite a bit of parking available right next to the lighthouse, so I'm unsure why they don't allow parking out there. The walk back was even more of a trek since it was uphill, again made worse by the fact that we were exhausted from our earlier hike. The lighthouse had suffered damage from the big CA storms back in January, so it was great that the inside was open and they were able to recover some of the historical pieces. Unfortunately though, since it was being painted, all the windows were covered with tarps so you couldn't see out. There were picnic tables by the light house, which would be great if you have a small picnic, since you won't really want to walk a cooler out all that way. Not a place I'd recommend to those that have been to many other lighthouses or have done a long hike before. If you've never seen a light house before and want to get a walk in too, this is the perfect place to go! read more

See all

Uniqueness: Beautiful small lighthouse that reminds me of what you'd typically see on the East Coast. Travel Time: [x][x][x][ ][ ] Scenic Quality: [x][x][x][ ][ ] Service: [x][x][x][x][ ] Setting: [x][x][x][x][x] Cost: [x][x][x][x][x] Recommendation? Get those hiking/walking shoes prepped as you're going to be walking more than mile one way each to get and leave from the lighthouse! Point Cabrillo Light Station was a beautiful spot to check out on our Mendocino trip. However, it was quite the shock of how far it took to hike out to the spot though! The parking lot being not too full was great news as we don't want to run into a crowd of tourists but perhaps one the reasons why it's not that crowded is the walk to the light house was quite more than expected. Took more than a mile one way to get there and once we got there, the winds started picking up and was getting chilly so that was unfortunate. The lighthouse tower is open only on certain days while the rest is open for tourists to enjoy with a little gift store inside. Was just a single staff today and only a few people checking out as it was also nearing the end of the day. The lighthouse itself was beautiful and scenic as what you'd imagine a classic lighthouse would be. They also have a small marine center that showcases the sea life around the area and as well as a mini aquarium for the kids to see. I did notice a parking very close to the light house but apparently it's only for the people who booked the rented houses nearby. Well worth the visit and also quite the workout to enjoy at the same time. read more

See all

We've walked the path to the lighthouse twice now. Such a beautiful walk and you can't beat the view when you get to the lighthouse. The picnic benches are a nice place to relax before walking back and it would be a great place to have a picnic! read more

Point Cabrillo Light Station - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mendocino, California

Easily accessible off CA-1 though you should expect a half-mile walk from the parking lot out to the lighthouse. It's a smooth, paved walkway so enjoy the walk. This is my first "Pacific coast" lighthouse https://www.yelp.com/collection/GLWJhPZloUBCLUFSYgLw4g/Lighthouses and the first since the Tenney Lock in Madison Wisconsin https://www.yelp.com/biz/tenney-lock-and-dam-madison?hrid=N0_RrumERcy9P-jBOo2wrw a few weeks ago. Located about a mile and a half north of Mendocino, the lighthouse has a third-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse itself isn't that tall but when you include the headlands, it is a full 81 feet above sea level. The first lighthouse here went into operation in 1909 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The lighthouse is completely approachable and the lightkeeper's house is open for touring, stuffed with period-appropriate materials and furniture. I enjoyed my visit. Oh, and there's a public restroom nearby. [Review 17633 overall - 423 in California - 1153 of 2022.] read more

See all

A must see stop if you're in the area. The walk down isn't hard and it has such a killer view. Definitely worth it. There a couple benches to sit and watch the ocean. read more

See all

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Lovingly restored and maintained historic site atop a gorgeous headlands area. On our way out of the Mendocino area we decided to hit this place up and had a lovely time. We parked in one of the outer parking lot areas and had a nice walk in, although you can park closer, if you want. After wandering the bluffs around the building, we decided to visit the lighthouse museum and the restored lighthouse keeper's house next door. What a great glimpse into the history of the buildings and the area itself. The museum is small but well-kept, with lots of interesting artifacts (especially about the native people who were there first) and a great gift shop. There was a very nice older volunteer lady who was there to answer questions and ring up sales. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

See all

Light Supremacy One of two lighthouses we visited on our last roadtrip and this was a good one. The Good: *Built in 1909, it's one of the few remaining active duty lighthouses left in CA. *Free parking *Restrooms *Dog-friendly *EV Charging stations in the parking lot * 1/2mile walk from the parking lot to the Lighthouse and there's several other trails surrounding it to sashay your purty lil' self along the coast. *Lighthouse museum is currently open and sells some goodies. *There are rentable cottages next to the Lighthouse that you can stay at! The Meh: *Lens tours are currently on-hold due to The 'Rona™ :( The Ugly: *If you're going for some sunset photos and the weather looks gloomy don't bother. The fog is pretty thick 'round these parts and you won't even be able to tell where the sun is. TLDR: Beautiful Lighthouse along the Mendocino Coast and def worth a stop if you're driving-by along the PCH. read more

See all

Good coastal hike to the lighthouse! It has a small gift shop! Tours are given with a small donation! Beautiful location! Trail is unpaved and maybe difficult for seniors and small children! There is also a shipwreck hike about extra ten minutes away! Overall great place! Parking is limited! read more

See all

The hike is worth the drive here. Plus the EV charging is free. It's slow charging but every bit helps, the closest Supracharging station is in Ft Bragg. The hiking is beautiful as the water here is very clear! read more

See all

Stopped here while driving south on highway 1. We took the half mile walk down the paved trail to the lighthouse. It's a nice walk and not strenuous...most of it is pretty flat. The lighthouse, outbuildings and cottage were built in 1909. There's plenty of photo opportunities and beautiful views from the lighthouse point...and it's FREE! read more

See all

Dog friendly and free! Beautiful and easy walk along the coast, must see, great for picnics, plenty of parking and you can even rent the cottages there. read more

See all

Absolutely lovely. I've always had a soft spot for lighthouses, and this one is beautifully restored. The walk out to the bluff is easy and scenic. It feels like stepping into another time--very peaceful and great for photos. Don't miss the little museum. read more

You won't find a more picturesque lighthouse than the one at Point Cabrillo. The color and design of the lighthouse are what I had in mind here. On several of my road trips, I have stopped here to stretch my legs and take advantage of the fantastic photo ops. The lighthouse is carefully cared for, and visitors looking for a one-of-a-kind experience can stay in one of the nearby apartments. The lack of parking spaces is the single major drawback. The main portion is hoofable, but it's still a bit of a hike. However, if you're traveling with kids, this could be a good opportunity to get them some exercise after they've been cooped up in the car for a while. read more

There is paved parking located a half mile away from the Light Station as you enter the gate from Point Cabrillo Drive. There is also handicap parking located at the Light Station for those who need it. We took the north end dirt trail which was about 3/4 of a mile away but gave a much more scenic walk towards our destination. This Lighthouse has a Gift Shop, Marine Science Exhibit and First Assistant Lightkeeper's Museum. The gift shop is open but you cannot enter due to covid. The very helpful employee working the lighthouse and gift shop was eager and willing to tell us all the history of the fully operational and active lighthouse. Donations are appreciated as well! They have two large houses and two small cottages they rent out if you would like to stay overnight. The views are absolutely amazing and be sure to walk around the area for beautiful photo opportunities. read more

See all

You must visit this here location -- just go! You know that term "there's many like it, but this one is mine." That's not very relative to this review, but there ain't many spots like this one here. I recommend visiting when there's less people in order to enjoy the silence. Next to small ocean pools where seals frequent. Great sounds, smells, and visuals. Just go. If you have access to handicap parking areas, there are some parking spots located past the main parking at the entry. To get to the far parking lot, go through the gate in the main parking area, and continue down the road toward the ocean. Be careful of local wildlife and people walking! read more

Point Cabrillo Light Station - Point lighthouse on a stormy day. Worth seeing in person, don't just look at the photos. Go take your own! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mendocino, California

See all

Best Lighthouse Ever Every Time We Go 2 Fortbragg My Favorite Spot Lighthouse So Relaxing N View Is Amazing read more

This was a hidden gem and wonderful stop that we stumbled upon. Parking is about 1/2 mile from the lighthouse, though along the pathway they had questions about whales that was interesting and informative. Once we got to the lighthouse area, it looks like people can stay in the little cottages, which would be a neat experience. The beacon in the lighthouse is gorgeous. The view spectacular. We saw jelly fish in the clearest, bluest/green-ish water. It was fun to explore. Would highly recommend this for families. The walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse is well paved and wide so easy to social distance. read more

See all

It's just a short walk to the light station from the main parking lot. I highly recommend taking the unpaved trail on the north end of the parking lot. It was less traveled and less developed so you really felt at one with nature. The structure is temporarily closed to the public due to COVID but the gift shop is open for "window shopping." I didn't know what that meant at first, but I soon figured it out! There are photos of the various wares for sale and when you have decided on what you are interested in, you can ask to see/buy them at the open window where a very friendly and knowledgeable volunteer awaits you. I got some pretty post cards (surprisingly hard to find in town), a couple of books, a gorgeous hand painted trivet, and two cute pairs of socks. There is a smorgasbord of souvenirs to choose from. The volunteer gave us a wonderful history lesson. You could tell she was really excited to share her knowledge with the public. I can't wait to go back when it's sunny so I can get some photos with a blue sky. read more

The light house is a great place for a walk, the views, and the building . BUT How many times do I have to tell you... there is nothing else here. No coffee shops, NO food to eat..... NOTHING. Every thing you have listed here is 5 miles or more away.... Mendocino or Fort Bragg. I love my simple nothing. But dont come here looking for Coffee shops or Food or celebrations. It is just peace and quite. read more

We stopped at Point Cabrillo light station on our last morning in town before heading back home. It is easy to find and they have a convenient parking lot with restroom amenities. There are even electrical vehicle charging stations! The path to the lighthouse from the parking lot is easy to follow but beware: tons of poison ivy and ticks. Even staying on the path, we had to dodge overgrown poison ivy and when we got back to our vehicle, our dogs were covered in ticks. But the view from the lighthouse is spectacular and a nice place to enjoy a quiet morning. read more

This was as nice, quaint stop on our way back home to the Bay Area from Fort Bragg. By 2-3pm on a weekday, the lot was rather empty. The lighthouse is about a 15 minute walk from the parking lot on paved and mostly flat ground. There's a bathroom opened near the parking lot and one by the lighthouse on the house rental grounds. The latter one was SPARKLING CLEAN despite COVID restriction. (Really appreciated it before our drive back) While the lighthouse was closed for tours, the light itself on the lighthouse was still on and spinning. It was absolutely gorgeous with the Pacific Ocean as its backdrop. There were a few picnic tables to sit and enjoy the view. Make sure you take lots of pictures! Because there were few people around, it was easy to get the entire structure/background with no one in it. What a delight at a tourist destination! read more

See all

This is the first time I have ever been to this place on the Mendocino coast and I have been here a dozen times. So glad I finally met you Point Cabrillo! It's a half mile walk to the lighthouse and the Beautiful Mendocino Bluffs. I happened to be there during whale watching time so that was an absolute bonus to see a dozen spouts of water from the whales. It's a cute little area all red top groups and you can actually rent a couple of the Cottages there for a very steep price. If you are a lighthouse fan you don't want to miss this place. read more

Beautiful location to soak up some ocean sights and sounds. The lighthouse is neat. We had already done a hefty hike at Russian Gulch prior to swinging by here, which made the 1/2 mile walk from the parking lot (and back) take a bit longer than normal. An hour is still sufficient for a leisurely visit. Great photo spot and you may even get a peek of a wedding or other fancy event being set up. Also, if you are lucky, you may also be there at the same time as sea lions. We saw some young ones playing in the inlet below, and someone noted that it looked like sea lion daycare. Wonderful (free) tourist destination on the coast! read more

Active lighthouse nestled in the quaint town of Mendocino. I walked through the shrubs from the parking lot to the lighthouse only to realize on the walk back that there's a paved trail on the other end of the parking lot. No effort wasted as the shrub trail led to to a gorgeous cliff. The first floor of the lighthouse itself includes a small museum and gift shop with fair prices. The cashier was extremely nice and helpful. Next to the lighthouse is a shack-like room consisting of environmental awareness displays. I found it educational and great visuals for kids. Overall, an hour is plenty of time to bask in this historical goodness. read more

Point Cabrillo Light Station - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Mendocino, California

See all

Suprised by how much there was to see here! The light keepers house was an interesting peek into an old way of life and the light station had great old photographs of the area and gave you a good idea of what life was like living on the point. There's a little marine science exhibit to learn about the local creatures found in the tide pools and ocean too. It's a gorgeous spot, great for seeing wildlife and birds and mushrooms! Easy walk to the lighthouse from the parking lot on a paved road. read more

See all

A nice way to kill an hour between Fort Bragg and Mendocino is making the proverbial pit-stop at Point Cabrillo. What is it about lighthouses that's so comforting? Is it the vigilante light that saves sailors from going into harm's way on the rocky shore? Or perhaps it's the fact that you can climb up them like you're in a womb and find an orgasmic flash of light at the top. Oh my, I do believe I'm getting the vapors. No such luck at Point Cabrillo since you can't go into the lighthouse proper, but you can go inside the combo museum-and-gift shop and buy your souvenir magnet, all the while listening to the building's detailed history from an enthusiastic docent. Interesting enough to browse for sure, but it's really the gorgeous views that surround it that make the half-mile hike from the parking lot worth the effort. Nearby are a series of vintage houses available for vacation rentals, including the former home of the head lighthouse keeper. The visitors' center at the parking lot looked like it's been closed for a while, probably the victim of state budget cuts. The restrooms also weren't in working order, so if nature calls, you will indeed respond in nature if you don't plan ahead. Regardless, just enjoy the rather squatty lighthouse for its quaintness and vista views (see photos). read more

See all

It's a half mile hike down hill from the parking lot. Besides the obvious, there's a self guided museum, which was once the home to the light keeper and their families. There was also a marine science exhibit and a store with number of souvenirs. The store is located in the first floor of the lighthouse. I found out that the public is allowed to go to the second floor and view the awesome light, eight times a year. If you're in the area, I highly recommend you stop by. The views are endless and it's all free! There are handicapped parking spaces close to the lighthouse, so don't fret the one mile round trip if you have physical limitations. read more

See all

Highly recommended because of the gorgeous environment along the coast, well maintained lighthouse, friendly workers, lovely round trip walk (10 minutes each direction) from the parking lots and well maintained bathrooms. read more

See all

Another great park that is free. When you first drive in, you can stop at a parking lot with open restrooms where you can walk in two different directions to the lighthouse. One has a paved road for older adults who may struggle to walk and another that over grass/dirt that is more scenic. For those who are not able to walk down the paved trail to the lighthouse, there is also limited parking by guest housing very close to the lighthouse. Lighthouse is in great shape, has a gift shop, and the view is superb. Will be back. read more