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Pigeon Point Lighthouse, CaliforniaJune 2, 2009Pigeon Point Lighthouse is a California State Park which is located in Pescadero along Pacific Coast Highway 1 in California between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. The location of the lighthouse is spectacular, it is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You can actually stay there in the restored lighthouse keepers housing, which I did, as it is also a hostel which is run by Hostelling International. The lighthouse is one of the tallest and most picturesque on the west coast of the United States measuring 115 feet. The lighthouse was designated as California Historical Landmark. In June when I visited the whole area was full with wildflowers. It’s really nice to go for walk in the surrounding area around the lighthouse as it is rich with marine life. You’ll see such mammals as seals, sea otters, sea lions, dolphins, humpback and gray whales which can be seen from the shore as they pass by. The best time to see gray whales is when they make their annual migration from the Bering Sea to Baja California between January and April.  Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of California’s most photographed lighthouse.  Lighthouse Tower is 115 feet high and stands on a 8 foot thick concrete foundation.   Pigeon Point was named for clipper ship Carrier Pigeon which ran aground in 1853 and sank just 500 feet from the shore.   This part of the coast has rocky reefs and contains a variety of plant and animal life. There is a sandy beach which can be accessed from stairs near the lighthouse. From the beach, you can see a rock formation in the middle of the cove called “Prisoner Rock”. The rock got this name because often fishermen were left stranded on it in high tides.    For more information visit the following related links. California State Parks Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel Back to Home from Pigeon Point Lighthouse |