Thar she blows! Point Reyes Lighthouse

Point Reyes National Seashore, California

Every winter, the lighthouse at Point Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco experiences two migrations: thousands of gray whales heading south to Mexico, and thousands of visitors swarming the park to see the whales.

Because of the bay's high fog, the lighthouse is situated unusually close to the water. As a result, its grounds and the 300 steps down the bluff are popular perches for crowds hoping for a glimpse of a tail or fin.

Whale watching... What's involved? 39 sec./1.5Mb QuickTime 2.1Mb larger frame version

The Lighthouses: -Intro- Cape Hatteras - N.C. Highland - Massachusetts St. Augustine - Florida Grosse Point - Illinois Heceta Head - Oregon

Teachers also bring students here, some as young as kindergarten aged. Though the kids may not have the patience that whale-spotting requires, their enthusiasm more than makes up for it.

The lighthouse visitor center is open Thursday through Monday year-round, except for Christmas.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window.
Weather: Point Reyes, California
City Guides and Maps: California

Related story:

• Now comes the clean up - October 8, 1995 (Point Reyes Station wildfire)

Related sites:

• Point Reyes National Seashore
• National Park Service: Point Reyes Light facts
• Lighthouse Getaways: Point Reyes Light