Point Reyes Light in Inverness, California

“Prepare yourself for 20 miles of beautiful scenery on your way here. Once you get here you might have to wait for parking space to become available but the wait is worth it. Once you walk up the hill and see the lighthouse at the bottom of the steps surrounded by the water and the coastline to your right, it is breathtaking. 313 steps down and 313 steps up, nice little work out but feels good knowing you did it. The wind feels amazing. Friendly staff at the visitor center. Overall it was a satisfying experience. Hope you guys enjoy such as much as I did”

— David Melendez · ★★★★★ · 2026-2-22

“This was such a treat but honestly we didn’t anticipate the strenuous activity it would be. It was so packed we had to walk about 1.5 miles to the vistor center and then do the actual stairs down to the lighthouse and back. It is such a deep slope. People were struggling to do the uphill climb. I dont recommend pregnant women to do it at all if you are too far along. Kids also might have a hard time. It was breathtaking and wonderful but we payed the price for it. Prepare wearing active clothing and wind breakers for windy conditions. Lots of water and patience. Free admission”

— Gabriela Del Mar · ★★★★★ · 2026-2-15

“Our visit to the place was enhanced by the dew / moisture which flew from the Pacific allowing us to understand why the shipwreck took place in the past along with the rocky terrain which was not visible to the ships passing by before the lighthouse was established. From the point of parking to the lighthouse we have to descend 300+steps . Though these are not steep people climbing up may encounter breathlessness . However , people can rest at two places which provide spectacular sight to the Pacific Ocean. On the way to the lighthouse one can visit a canopy of Cypress trees which also houses”

— iruvanti venkat · ★★★★★ · 2025-11-30

“It's a beautiful Light house in a cool spot. It is worth the effort to get down to it. It can get busy so arrive early and bring some patience. There is a steep trail down to the lighthouse but if you take you time and let faster people go by it can be an enjoyable experience because of the view. Another suggestion is to make sure you have enough gas before you leave point reyes station because cell service is spotty and gas stations are rare in this part of California. Parking is free and entrance is also free but they appreciate donations to support the light house.”

— Matthew Nena · ★★★★★ · 2026-1-25

“Beautiful lighthouse and great views all along the path up. It's a picturesque spot and probably cooler if you could visit the lighthouse before it closed (we arrived a bit too late)”

— Victor · ★★★★★ · 2026-1-4

“Views from Point Reyes are breathtaking. From the lighthouse parking lot, the half mile hike to the lighthouse gift shop and visitor/information center is fairly easy and presents beautiful vistas in all directions. At that point, you arrive at the top of the 313 steps down to the lighthouse. The views from here were spectacular, even though pretty much all I could see was the ocean. The lighthouse is both beautiful and historically interesting. A nice & friendly ranger inside the lighthouse explained about its history and its mechanics. The hike back up was very refreshing. All together, an ”

— Bhushan Timla · ★★★★★ · 2025-11-20

“The 313 stairs down to the lighthouse are open 10am - 4pm Thursday-Monday, unless the wind exceeds 40mph. It's well worth making the effort to time your visit with the stairs being open as it's a fun walk down to the lighthouse and back. There are several rest spots on the stairs if you start to feel the burn in your legs on the way up. The views are spectacular, and when I visited in April there were multiple whales visible from the lighthouse. There's a visitor center at the top of the stairs for more info, plus a couple of bathrooms. The parking lot is a short walk away along a paved road.”

— Helen Marquis · ★★★★★ · 2025-5-2

“The place is absolutely beautiful and definitely worth the drive. There’s a small public parking lot with limited spaces, but you can also find parking along the road. You’ll find public restrooms near the parking area and another one along the trail to the lighthouse. There’s also a souvenir shop and an educational center nearby. The views are truly breathtaking. A few tips before you go: 1. It’s very cold and windy, so make sure to wear warm clothes and a hat. 2. The walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse is about 0.4 miles, followed by 313 stairs. Going down is easy, and on the way ba”

— Kateryna Novodvorska · ★★★★★ · 2025-6-16

“It was wet and windy on this day. Pretty miserable in terms of visibility. There were just about 8-10 determined persons like us trying to get a glimpse but the fog was so thick visibility was just a few feet. Then a miracle! The skies opened and shafts of light penetrated to illuminate the landscape. Then absolute glory as the skies cleared and we had a fabulous view of the place! Worth a thousand words are the pictures posted”

— Narayanan Nandagopal · ★★★★★ · 2025-10-30

“A great lighthouse with an intriguing history. Excellent views across the ocean when the fog clears. Staff were informative and very helpful, and the site is well maintained in general. Would happily visit again and stay longer to do some wildlife watching. There's a lot to see from the vantage point”

— Samuel Liddicott · ★★★★★ · 2025-8-3