Punta Gorda Lighthouse
Petrolia, CA
Punta Gorda Lighthouse sits on a remote stretch of the Lost Coast, a decommissioned light reachable only by a beach hike south from the Mattole River trailhead. Reaching it means walking the sand at low tide past seal haul-outs, which makes the lighthouse feel more like a discovery than a roadside stop.
A genuinely rare, hike-only historic site with real atmosphere, though the tide dependent access means it takes real planning to reach safely.
How we score beachesCheck a tide table before you go, sections of the beach route to the lighthouse are impassable or dangerous at high tide.
No fee, though the CCC records no formal parking area at this remote access point.
The lighthouse is reached only on foot along the beach; there's no road or trail shortcut.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the Lost Coast Trail out to Punta Gorda Lighthouse, with a leash required near the seal haul out between Punta Gorda and Sea Lion Gulch.
Wind and fog are common on this exposed stretch, and water stays cold year round. Summer and fall bring the most reliable hiking conditions.
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.