Entry No. 17 — the Monterey file — filed under: lighthouse
Point Sur Lighthouse (Point Sur State Historic Park)
A ~361-foot volcanic rock rises sheer out of the surf, crowned by California's only complete turn-of-the-century light station still open to the public; the station's history ties it to offshore disasters including the 1894 wreck of the steamer Los Angeles, and Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures came out to investigate reports the rock is haunted.
The story
Nineteen miles south of Carmel, a 361-foot volcanic rock stands sheer out of the Pacific surf like an offshore citadel. Sitting right on top is California's only complete turn-of-the-century light station still open to the public. The station was erected to warn ships off Big Sur's jagged coastline, though it couldn't stop every catastrophe—most notably the 1894 wreck of the steamer Los Angeles, which smashed against the rocks nearby.
Decades of maritime disasters and extreme isolation atop a wind-battered sea stack gave the rock a reputation that extends beyond engineering history. Reports of lingering specters and ghost lore eventually drew the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures team out to investigate the lightstation's quiet corridors and weathered quarters.
What it's like
You cannot simply drive up to the lantern room; access starts at a locked farm gate directly off Highway 1. Visitors wait in line for docent-led three-hour walking tours that take you up the access road and up a 395-step staircase directly to the lantern room. The tours run strictly on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance reservations, so arriving at the farm gate at least 30 minutes before start time is essential.
The move: Show up for one of the docent-led three-hour lightstation tours (Wed 1pm, Sat 10am & 2pm, Sun 10am — first-come-first-served, no reservations, arrive 30 min early) and climb the 395-step staircase together to the lantern room, then hang back at the base for the sunset light show before the gate locks.
- 📍 Point Sur, Big Sur coast
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Highway 1 at Point Sur (farm gate meeting point, ~19 mi south of Carmel), Big Sur, CA 93920
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Whalers Cabin Museum — Continue Big Sur's shipwreck history by visiting this 1850s cabin built by shipwrecked Chinese fishermen 15 miles north at Point Lobos.
- Henry Miller Memorial Library — Contrast Point Sur's strict docent rules and state park gates with an ungovernable, laid-back outdoor library space ten miles down the coast.
- The Phoenix Shop (Nepenthe) — Head south down Highway 1 after your tour to thaw out, take in the cliffside views, and check out Edmund Kara's carved oak trunk sculpture.
Good to know
How do I get onto the property?
Access is restricted to docent-led tours. You must meet at the locked farm gate on Highway 1, roughly 19 miles south of Carmel.
Can I reserve tour tickets in advance?
No. All tours are first-come, first-served. Show up at least 30 minutes before the scheduled tour time to queue up at the farm gate.
When do tours run?
Standard docent tours run Wednesdays at 1:00 PM, Saturdays at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, and Sundays at 10:00 AM, though you should verify current schedules before driving out.
Is the tour physically strenuous?
Yes. The three-hour tour involves walking up a steep paved path and climbing a 395-step staircase to reach the lantern room.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: parks.ca.gov · Wikipedia · hauntedplaces.org
last checked: 2026-07-20