Point Bonita Lighthouse
Sausalito, CA
Point Bonita Lighthouse sits at the very tip of the Marin Headlands, reached by a trail that passes through a hand-carved tunnel and across a suspension bridge before reaching the light itself. Few lighthouses anywhere involve a walk quite like this one.
The tunnel and suspension bridge approach is genuinely unlike any other lighthouse walk in the state, though limited open hours mean it takes some planning to actually see it up close.
How we score beachesCheck the lighthouse's posted open hours before making the trip, the tunnel and bridge are only accessible when it's staffed.
Free parking is available at the trailhead.
A trail leads through a tunnel and across a suspension bridge to the lighthouse.
Pets are not allowed anywhere on the Point Bonita Lighthouse trail, including the tunnel and lighthouse area.
Summer mornings run foggy before clearing, typical of the Marin coast, with fog itself part of why this lighthouse mattered so much historically.
More Pacific Coast beaches
Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA · Pacific Coast
A wide stretch of sand backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, with reliable swells that draw surfers year-round and plenty of room to spread out even on busy weekends.
Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Known as Surf City USA, with a mile-long municipal pier, consistent breaks for surfers of every level, and a laid-back boardwalk scene along Pacific Coast Highway.
Main Beach
Laguna Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Tucked between rocky headlands, with tidepools to explore at low tide, calmer coves for swimming, and an arts-town backdrop of galleries and cafes just steps from the sand.