Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park — Attraction in Boulder Creek

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park has always been a must stop for me when traveling these parts on Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Highway 1 is California's coastal highway. Beautiful coastal views, lot of free beach access.

Pigeon Point has a lighthouse, hostel, gift shop, beach access, museum, bluff overlooks, and public restrooms. The major draw, the light house, is not accessible right now though. It's fenced off and undergoing major renovations. But everything else is open. Still a worthwhile stop especially since everything is free. FREE!

The parking, beach access, and museum is free. FREE! Totally awesome. The beach access to Whaler's Cove involves walking down steps. There are no hand rails. The steps are gradual (not steep at all) with some flat landings. At least go down as far as you can for the views. Out in the cove is Prisoner Rock. Out on that rocky out cropping, you'll see various sea birds, seals, and sea lions just living their best life. It's out at a distance, bring your binoculars if you got any. If walking down the stairs to the beach is not your jam, walk to the Whaler's Cove overlook and soak in nature's awesomeness from there.

Follow the dirt packed trail from that overlook to the lighthouse and other buildings. The lighthouse is 115 feet tall. It became active in 1872 using a fresnal lens and an oil lamp. That was quite the modern technology back then. The temporary museum is free, however they gladly accept donations. It's set up in the fog signal building. It's called that because back in the day the fog signals came from that building. The set up is temporary because once the lighthouse is refurbished, the museum will move back there. On the back side of the building, the two diaphone horns can still be seen jetting out. The two tone diaphone horns were used from 1935-1960s. Ships could hear the horns 4-5 miles out. The museum also contained history of tragic local shipwrecks, house keeper artifacts like original journals, and info on local marine life. The day I dropped in, the docents were two lovely 'young at heart' ladies. Hubs and I had a great conversation with them. They made my visit even more memorable; true gems just like this state historic park.

Behind the fog signal building is another overlook. Be sure to check it out. The gift shop is in the carpenter shop building. The original carpenter shop is long gone, it's just a gift shop now. The other buildings make up the hostel. They are only for the guests. The reservation system is handled by a third party, Hostelling International. The public restrooms are near the...

The lighthouse itself gets 5/5. It is gorgeous and the place is breathtaking. It actually was the first lighthouse I ever got to see. The only reason I am giving it 4, there was a guy dressed up as a lightkeeper that was supposed to be informative helping tourists and visitors where the light actually was. We came in and I started taking pictures because I am a photography enthusiast. We were also on a time constraint from the trip so I didn't have the extra time to read all the plaques (but took pictures so I could later). He started immediately talking to an older woman about how my generation was incompetent and awful very loudly. He told her that "we just take pictures of everything but never read because we probably didn't even know how." And "what is the point in taking pictures? We know you aren't going to look at them later to read them?" There was a full blown conversation of him bashing us with us standing right there. That guy gets a 1 star from me personally because there was no sense in snark or comments. Granted this was a few years back...but it has bothered me. I have never had someone be so rude, especially with me standing right there, during a trip in my life. On a personal note: I love Pigeon Point and have read my photos I took. So sorry to the very salty keeper but when I am on borrowed time I do not have time to read everything in detail right then and there but it does not mean I don't care or that I won't or can't read things later. I even joined the USLS, because I fell in love with lighthouses after visiting here. I will forever love the lighthouse even if certain people do not care about how they can negatively impact others when they don't know or understand their...

Came here with my mom. We were driving along the coast stopping at different places. This was one of our stops. I have never been here before.

It's suchbbeautiful scenery at this historic Highway one landmark.

You can walk along this little walk area where there is wildlife in abundance whether it be playful otters, sea lions or elephant seals there is something to enjoy.

The flowers and plants along the way by the hostel are beautiful...

This is a great viewing place for the whale migration annually...it takes place March through May when the whales are migrating from Baja California to Alaska...

The little beach below this lookout point always offers sea shell and mini tide pools. What a wonderful lighthouse and beautiful grounds.

The seals are very cute to watch. It seems sometimes that they are posing for pictures. So cute.

Inside the building they offer a video and fog horn of the light house and how it came about. There is also a mini light house that shows the inside of it.

They also have a little store with shirts and items you can buy.

Looking for a place to stay...there is s hostel here. I did not know that and not sure the cost.

Really enjoyed...