POINT BONITA LIGHTHOUSE
Marin Headlands, California
Point Bonita marks the northern tip of land at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. It is 4 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge and it is perched on a most precarious cliff about 125 feet above the pounding surf below. Why in 1939, landslides, during some very foul weather, took out the land between lighthouse and the trail. Thus, the suspension bridge access. It is the only lighthouse with a suspension bridge and the bridge itself is a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Now this is actually the second light built here. The first was constructed in 1855 up on top of the hill. The 2nd order Fresnel lens ($7000) started shining on April 30th, 1855 from 306 feet above the sea. This light had the same problem as Point Loma in San Diego. When the fog was thick, you couldn't see the light. So in 1876, the second light was built in its current location. It began to shine on February 1st, 1877. When you hike down the trail to the lighthouse, you can't help but notice the ruggedness of land and what it must have been like to help build that trail and lighthouse so long ago.
Point Bonita has
several distinctions. It was the first site on the Pacific coast to have a fog
signal( 1856), an old army cannon, that was also ineffective. You couldn't hear
it over the relentless surf that would sometimes crash with such fury that waves
would reach higher than the light, over 130 feet.
It was also the last manned lighthouse in California. Mark van Buskirk was
the last keeper and served until 1981. Although now automated, Point Bonita
still shines from the original 2nd order lens.
To get there, you drive to the north side of Golden Gate Bridge on Hwy One. Going north, you take the Anderson Road exit right after you get off the bridge and go under the highway and follow the signs to Marin Headlands. Coming south on Hwy 1, you take the last exit before entering the bridge. Turn left and go up and to the right. You will have several turnouts going up that offer dramatic views of the bridge, the bay, and San Francisco. As you head down the one lane road towards the lighthouse, you will also have photo opportunities for the Point Bonita peninsula. You can even see Mile Rocks lighthouse across the channel to the south. Tours are offered and you can go in on your own but only between the hours of 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM. Mile and a half hike downhill then back up when you're done.
Here's how I saw it:
PB1 PB2 PB3 PB4 PB5 PB6 PB7 PB8
OF THE MOUNTAINS
John B Caddell
Copyright 2001