History:
A trip through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area provides the grand entrance to the Point Bonita Light. The trip to the lighthouse is part of what makes a visit so much fun; first you must descend a steep hill, pass through a tunnel and then cross a narrow suspension bridge. The view is breathtaking and on a clear day you can see the Golden Gate bridge in the distance.

As the third lighthouse built in the San Francisco Bay area (in 1855), Point Bonita was unique. The original tower, built separate from the residence, provided a lonely existence for the initial light keepers. There were no inhabitants for five miles and no direct communication. It was so inhospitable that seven keepers were employed within the first nine months of the operation of the light.

The first fog signal at Point Bonita was a surplus army cannon, but it was eventually replaced by a 1,500-pound bell that the keepers struck with a hammer.

Eventually the original Point Bonita site was abandoned because of intense fog and sailors' inability to see the light. In 1877, he light house authorities chose "Land's End," the bitter end of Point Bonita, broken, unstable, narrow and steep to be the location of the new Point Bonita Light. Construction was difficult and an incline railway had to be built to carry materials from ships up the rock to the building site. John B. Brown was the keeper of the new light and he stayed there for over 20 years, rescuing more than 40 shipwrecked sailors during his career.

The keeper's quarters were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and in the 1940s a landslide destroyed the land bridge that led to the light. A suspension bridge was built to bridge the gap.

Source: About.com - California

Hours:
12:30pm - 3:00pm, Weekends and Mondays

Personal Notes:
I'm not a huge fans of heights, but I have to say crossing the bridge to the lighthouse wasn't bad at all. If you're not a fan of heights either, simply stare right at that big 'ol fresnel lens as you're walking over to the lighthouse and you'll be fine.

If you happen to show up at the parking area for the lighthouse at a time other than those listed above, don't even bother. There's a short tunnel you have to go through to gain access to where the bridge is. At all other times besides those listed above the tunnel is gated closed. You can't get to the other side and you have no view of the lighthouse. In addition, there's a pretty good incline on the walk back. Good to be aware of this in case you're not up for a strenuous walk.

As you are following the driving directions be sure to take the time to stop and marvel at the awesome view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The road you take just after you cross under US101 is the one that'll have the great views. Go back there in late afternoon as the late day sun is shining on the bridge. Beautiful. Also, the directions show a few turns after you turn onto Bunker Rd. I don't remember those turns, so either my map software is showing turns when the road is really straight or there were obvious signs leading us to the parking area. Either way, I know it was easier to get there than the directions imply.

Latitude/Longitude: 37°49'N 122°32'W

Directions: click here for overview map     click here for detail map #1      click here for detail map #2

• From the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, take US101/SR1 north over the bridge.
• Once over the bridge take your first exit (NOT the one for the scenic overlook).
• At the end of the ramp take a left.
• After you go under the US101 overpass, you'll bear right onto the road leading up the hill.
• Follow this road for 1.5 miles. At the top of the hill you come to an intersection where the road you're on continues straight and to the left. Take the road to the right. That is McCullough Road.
• Take McCullough Rd. 0.9 miles to the end. Take a left onto Bunker Rd.
• Stay on Bunker Rd. for 0.9 miles and bear left onto Simmonds Rd.
• In 0.9 you'll see the YMCA in front of you. Bear to the left onto Field Rd.
• Take Field Rd. for 0.65 miles where Fort Barry Rd. goes off to the left. Take that about 0.3 miles to the parking area.