It was really frustrating making the trip out here to find the site closed due to the government shutdown a few months ago. Seeing such a beautiful scenic area lead to an old locked door standing between myself and the lighthouse was a sad way to end the visit. There were still nice things to see but to go with the review: Could've been better read more

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A part of our Marin Headlands 31 mile hike adventure. It was a quick stop to see this old lighthouse. We can only view it from a distance. If the lighthouse can speak, I'm sure it will have a million stories to tell. It was a nice stop for us to witness something from the past. The Park Rangers were extremely nice and cheerful. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

Point Bonita Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sausalito, California

After trying to make it to lighthouse many times after past few years, we finally did it. The stars aligned On a summer afternoon we set out for the lighthouse and were met by Karl the Fog on the Golden Gate Bridge. The visibility and the sun on the other side was great. Many people suggested to park at battery fort parking and that worked out great for us. Just a .7 mil walk and then we were met by great ranger who explained how the lighthouse saved ships from crashing into the coastlines and is still functional. The fog helped us understand the impact the lighthouse was making. Though the bridge is closed for renovations, the path leading up to the lighthouse and the scenes to the ocean(with fog) were great. There are docent led tours but we missed those. We saw many harbor seals sunning on the rocks. Loved the whole experience. Glad that we were able to go there. read more

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After many times seeing this lighthouse from across the water at Lands End, we decided it was finally time to venture over the bridge and check it out. Visiting the lighthouse is free, no cost for parking or to go inside. They are only open certain days of the week depending on the time of the year, so always a good call to check the website to make sure you can visit. From the moment you get out of the car and have visibility of the ocean the views are great! You can see the Golden Gate Bridge and much of San Francisco just about anywhere along the trail out to the lighthouse. Down by the lighthouse you can see a lot of open ocean, and if you're lucky like we were, you might even see some whale action off in the distance. They have docents at the bridge to the lighthouse and had one inside giving a talk. The room was pretty small so I wasn't able to go in, but one person in my party sat through it and said it was great and very educational. There's a short trail from the parking down to the lighthouse, about 1/2 mile each way. There is a bit of an incline, nothing too intense, but probably not the most accessible friendly. The trail is pretty wide until you get through the tunnel, at which point it narrows and switches from cement to dirt. Parking at the trailhead is limited, but there's plenty of room to park along the road just a short walk away. There's also a couple picnic areas down by the additional parking. read more

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Revisited the Light House in June 2025 and the bridge is closed. Still a nice hike from the parking lot to the bridge but you can't go across to see the lighthouse. Still a really nice walk beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge, and the headlands. Definitely worth a stop for the short walk. read more

Point Bonita Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sausalito, California

Visited over spring break as we were looking for various stops on our way back to San Francisco. We found this and drove out to the point. There was a walk that was fairly easy and took you along some hills and through a tunnel. Walking out to where the lighthouse was it got quite windy. We were disappointed when we got out to the point where we could walk out to the lighthouse and saw that it was closed due to the high winds. The Park Ranger that was there was very nice and obviously it was closed for people safety walking out, but it was a bit of a disappointment that we walked the entire way without knowing that we won't be able to complete out journey. Still a great spot with some excellent photo of the city, the bay and the lighthouse and we were glad we took the time to check it out. read more

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Everything went well except we did not do our due diligence and check the light house hours. This is a great place to walk about read more

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I can't believe I lived up in the Bay Area for like 5 years and never came here. On my most recent trip up to the bay, I dragged my bestie to Hawk Hill to go hiking, because it was something I saw on IG. The hike was not exactly what I was expecting from the pictures and videos, so we started walking down the trail along the road. We saw a bunch of old forts and were going to turn around when I jokingly said we should walk out to that lighthouse on the peninsula in the distance. My friend said, "you want to?" It looked really far, but her GPS said it was a 30 minute walk. It wasn't. It was over an hour. Lol. The signs said that it closed at like 4, and it was 3:50pm, so we ran down to the cave to make it through the entrance. Stupidly, it was still open after we experienced everything, and people were still walking in a hour later, so don't always believe signs... I loved how you had to walk through a tunnel to get to the suspension bridge. We had to wait a bit because only a certain number of people are allowed over there at a time, and there is a ranger with a counter making sure. The crossover was fun and bouncy, and the lighthouse itself was fascinating. The views from the lighthouse, the bridge, and the whole area are spectacular and not to be missed. Walking back an hour in the freezing wind and then back up to the car was not a highlight, but I'm so glad that we got to experience that together and didn't miss it. It was a highlight of my trip. If you go, make sure to drive over and park nearby. Lol. read more

A great place to take your mind off of stressful things in life & a breath of fresh air. Parking is pretty limited so it might take a while to visit this area. Before the lighthouse is a medium size trail that a mixture of walking uphill/downhill, it's worth the walk as the view overlooks SF! Heading to the lighthouse is a short tunnel, it's pretty dark in there but once you come out of it the view is whimsical! The bridge leading to the lighthouse is nice but a bit scary with the wind. The park rangers ensures that the bridge is stable by counting the amount of people on the bridge & lighthouse area. The park rangers while I was here was informative about the area & were really cool! 5/5 Definitely a great place to checkout if your in the area! read more

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This hike to the Point Bonita lighthouse offers spectacular views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. There is so much history of this light house it's the 3rd lighthouse in the West Coast and completed in 1855. The hike is easy and the length of the walk is about 1 mile or so round trip. There are no dogs or bikes allowed and the last entry is at 3:20 pm sharp and they will not let anyone in so be prepared to visit early. The hours of operation now till May 2024 HOURS OF OPERATION: Point Bonita Lighthouse September 2023 - May 2024 Monday: 12:30pm - 3:30pm Tuesday: CLOSED Wednesday: CLOSED Thursday: CLOSED Friday: 12:30pm - 3:30pm Saturday: 12:30pm - 3:30pm Sunday: 12:30pm - 3:30pm read more

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Went to hawk hill and Point Bonita lighthouse - beautiful views and walk. Lighthouse was closed. Could see the Golden Gate Bridge and seals. read more

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What a breathtaking sight overlooking the bay and San Francisco! It's truly remarkable to witness the historical significance of this place, where the first signs of World War II unfolded with the Japanese torpedo striking a freighter ship just hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor. On a clear day, the visibility of the sea and the city is simply fantastic.The best part? Free parking and complimentary access to get up close to the lighthouse. The park rangers here are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the area's history. Located just a half-hour drive from San Francisco, it's a convenient yet awe-inspiring destination. Do keep in mind, though, that it can get quite windy and chilly. The lighthouse is open for viewing from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Overall you need to plan for 3-4 hours of time.. 1/2 mile of walk from parking lot read more

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A go to spot when visiting San Francisco. A small little hike to a nice looking lighthouse with awesome views of the San Francisco Bay Area. Make sure to check their website to see when they are open. read more

Point Bonita Lighthouse - Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sausalito, California

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" I can fall in love with it again and again and wish to spread my ashes here", said the mrs. I won't go as extreme as her but it's undoubtedly one of the prettiest and picturesque sights to see when in San Francisco. Timing: It usually opens in spring / summer time between 12:30 to 3:30 pm on Sundays and mondays. Weather: it gets gusty in some sections as you head towards the tunnel and out of it plus on top of the bridge connecting to lighthouse. You want to hold onto your hats/wayward pets and children ( sometimes spouses) ;) They can close the tunnel and block entry due to high winds. Extra tours: they have sunset tours with pre-booking. They used to have moonlight walks which is in the list to do. Parking: there is immediate parking right where the short trail starts with limited spots. Plus two restrooms. There are two more parking lots. One is near YMCA WHICH IS OPEN during DAYLIGHT hours for visitors and one few yards down the hill. Which is the farthest one and it's a 10 minute walk to the nearest parking from where the trail begins. Wildlife: In this particular visit there was entire school of birds and specially pelicans. You'd occasionally sea the sea lions too. We spotted humpback too! You'd see all kinds of native wildflowers including pretty California poppies bloomed in spring time. Best time to be here! FYI. the ranger would only let few number of people walk across the bridge so wait your turn. TIP: plan to reach early and check the weather ( check with ranger at nps) before you plan to drive here. It is high traffic area. So you might have to drive in loops till you find parking too. But if you are local and haven't done this do t wait before theycc be close it. read more

Point Bonita Lighthouse - No better day than today - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sausalito, California

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Point Bonita lighthouse is currently only open on Sunday and Monday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. I decided to come on Monday because I figured there will be less people since it's not a weekend and there would be a less chance of waiting in line or having limited parking. I arrived shortly after 12:30pm on Monday and had to park in a different lot since the 7 ish spots near the entrance was already taken. It was a fairly short ish walk down the hill through the tunnel to the lighthouse. I went on a pretty windy day and was sad to hear that they were not allowing people to walk over the bridge to see the lighthouse up close. The park rangers said, "I wouldn't even walk over with this wind". Many people walked down, took a few pictures, saw the nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the city, and Alcatraz and then walked by up. So I guess note to others, if it is too windy the chances of crossing the suspension bridge to the lighthouse are slim. read more

Point Bonita Lighthouse - April 11, 2022 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sausalito, California

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It was amazing! The tunnel, the bridge and the view was incredible. Being able to walk in the lighthouse was a good experience. read more

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Such a cool spot! Tucked away at the edge of the Marin Headlands is this historical lighthouse. Parking is ample and the trail is well-maintained. It's not too bad of a hike either; it's 0.5 miles and paved with gravel throughout- so kid and stroller friendly. You can also catch glimpses of the Golden Gate from here. Check it out! read more

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Love the hike super easy, windy so bring a jacket! Pretty short hike, on the way back there's a bit on incline but that's it anyone can do this! read more

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Nice easy walk down to the light house. Not a lot to see inside of the light house. We didn't join the sunset tour ($18/adult if I remember right, book online). We just walked from the parking lot to the light house. Incredible views of the ocean. Can see sea lions and lots of birds on the rocks in the ocean. Family friendly. Stroller friendly too. Make sure to wear a jacket because it is windy. read more

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Such a gorgeous hidden gem in the Marin Headlands. You definitely need to drive to get here and parking is free! We found a spot easily on a Sunday. The lighthouse is only open 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM and they close promptly! You can't even get to the tunnel after a certain time. We arrived really close to the cutoff and we were the last group inside, and only half of my group was able to go across the suspension bridge to the actual lighthouse since we lingered too long taking photos and missed the cutoff (they have rangers there to enforce this.) I would definitely aim to arrive when they open so you can enjoy it longer, but I didn't feel like I missed out by any means. Now the actual hike - it's about 0.5 miles one way, and fairly easy. There was a steep, gravelly spot where my parents had trouble, but if you have good shoes and are in good health it's definitely an easy hike. The views are absolutely stunning. The photos don't do it justice. You can see the entire Golden Gate Bridge, the city, and the cute harbor seals. You can't see the lighthouse until you go through the tunnel, but once you go through it's another stunning, picturesque view. read more

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What a beautiful lighthouse. So nice to be able to go inside. There was a little gift shop with logo sweatshirts and ocean related gifts. We sat outside on thy e bench and enjoyed the view and the salt air. read more

Excellent hike, beautiful photo opportunities. Fresh air and fun wind. Lovely panoramic view of the Bay. Great day trip with family or a for a date. Only downsides is that it's only open on limited days and times. read more

Point Bonita Lighthouse - Coast - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sausalito, California

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Came early morning on a Monday and was able to snag a parking spot at the "lot" closest to the entrance, but only after a car was leaving. I think I just got lucky because I saw a lot of cars circling around unable to find a spot. There is a short but lovely walk up to the lighthouse. I totally recommend taking your time on the walk and soaking in the gorgeous views. The lighthouse itself is small with a super tiny exhibit on the inside. The ranger on site was friendly and helped me snap a quick photo. I had a great time and didn't spend more than an hour here, but totally worth the stop. read more

This was one of our last activities in 2020, pre-pandemic (I wonder if we'll always think in those terms!) ...and it was a fun one! The Marin Headlands are beautiful...there is so much to explore! The walk to the lighthouse is windy, but the views are great. Definitely a fun, short activity in the city. read more

It was a foggy morning when we arrived, but surprisingly the temperature was only in the low 60's. You'll be okay wearing shorts with a light jacket. Once you start walking, you'll be fine. From the parking lot to the lighthouse is quite a walk but there's a lot to see. Coming back is harder because it's mostly uphill. So make sure to hydrate and try to enjoy the scenery so it doesn't feel like it's a workout. I didn't know what to expect when we went so everything I saw was a complete surprise to me. Don't get me wrong, It's very beautiful here and the whole park & roadways are clean. I also felt safe and everyone is so nice. When we went, somehow we got blended in with a group of students whom I believe was being assisted by a tour guide or teacher. It was nice because there was a dark tunnel that we needed to cross before reaching the lighthouse and the group was nice enough to include us and let us in with them......but little did we know, they also locked the door after they let us in (we didn't realized this until on our way back) I think they locked the doors to make sure no one trash or vandalize the protected areas. I guess it's part of maintaining the place clean and the dark tunnel was a surprised for all of us. There's also a cute little bay bridge connecting the mountains and the lighthouse. One must cross the windy bridge to get to the other side. It's actually pretty exciting. It is overlooking the strong ocean waves and different rocks formation. Anyhow, the lighthouse is amazingly very clean, we took pictures, and immediately left the group of kids to head back to the car only to find out we were locked in because they had locked the doors to the tunnel. I had to mention this door locking issues because you have to know about it when you go. KNOW the hours of the park otherwise you might get stranded on the other side of the mountains and there's really no other way to get back. We walked extra to find the group & had to wait for them to unlock the tunnel doors for us. Overall, very exciting and the place is truly a hidden gem. A must see. read more

Point Bonita Lighthouse - It was so foggy this morning - Must cross the bridge to be able to check out the lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sausalito, California

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Minus 2 stars for the closure of the trail. There was a metal barricade with a sign stating the trail had been closed yet it was ignored as we saw some bicyclists riding back down. Super bummed that we made the drive out and didn't get to experience this hike. read more

A must visit! The drive up and the area is amazing. Its beauty is unmatched. The hours to visit are okay but you make do. read more

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Very easy nice hike to Point Bonita Lighthouse. The weather was very nice when we went there. Amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge and ocean. Difficult to find parking. read more

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A beautiful lighthouse on Sausalito. I came here on Sunday afternoon at 2PM and it wasn't packed but limited parking so be prepared to walked up to the lighthouse as it can takes 20 minutes. Entering the tunnel through the lighthouse was dark and fun. The view is breathtaking with the Golden Gate Bridge on sight. They close early so tried to come early before 3PM. There are many hiking trail to this area as biker also. read more

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A super cute old light house and light house keepers house on a scenic walk along the bay. I love the cell phone guided tour that tells you all the info with a simple call of your cell phone and dialing 35-39 then # and you get all the info of the area and about the light house history. Pretty cool and interesting. It gets really breezy and chilly even though its sunny. Views of the bay all around. They do have opening and closing times. See picture. Its a small tour that can be done in 30mins or more if you like to just enjoy the scenery. Great hiking trails nearby*Free* no admission charged. read more

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Located on you guessed it .........Point Bonita, The Point Bonita Lighthouse is one of the underused/hidden gems in the San Francisco Bay Area. Located in the Marin Headlands, The initial lighthouse was build in 1855 and featured a Fresnel lens which cost a little over $7000 (almost $200,000 in today's dollars) and a surplus army cannon served as the fog horn. The lighthouse was rebuilt in its present location in 1877. It had been located on higher ground, but due to typical Bay Area fog being higher up, it needed to be much lower to sea level to be seen by ships. its present location at 124 feet above sea level was perfect for this. With the rebuild cam e a change in the lighting itself. The 1855 Lighthouse being the only one on the coast had a fixed light. With the addition of other lighthouses the 1877 one featured a unique flashing pattern to identify it to ships at sea. But enough history...... This is one of the more fantastic day trips you can take in the SF Bay area but it does come with a few caveats. First and foremost there is a bit of a hike. From the often crowded parking lot, you take a hike down a paved trail which features a fairly steep grade. To the left you can see the remains of an old lifeboat station and often harbor seals can be seen sunning themselves on the rocks. Then you get to the tunnel. The tunnel is where you have to stop on most days but when open you traverse its 118 foot length (it was hand carved) to the other side and follow a trail along the mountain side ill you get to the bridge. The present suspension bridge was built in 2012 and it does look like a miniature Golden Gate. You cross the bridge and there is a whole lighthouse section to tour plus view of the Pacific. The views on clear days are spectacular and it offers a view of the Golden Gate that few get to see in person 9that is from the sea and from the Marin side) There is tons of other stuff to do and see from the old costal defense stations to an old NIKE surface to air missile battery. Be forewarned that it can get cold and the lighthouse has severally limited hours. Sundays and Mondays 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. If you can make the times work its a fantastic trip. read more

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Am I going to be one of the smaller number of people who are not going to give this place 4 or 5 stars? I suppose so! I've had this place bookmarked for a few years now, and I finally got to visit it one Monday with my boyfriend. We arrived there probably about an hour and half before they close. I think the hike to the lighthouse area is lovely with beautiful views of the lighthouse from afar. Then there was a line waiting to go into the lighthouse which was kinda of annoying. But the most annoying thing was the damn flies!!! Oh my grossness! So my freaking flies there! Yuck. Then the lighthouse experience was kinda of meh. They didn't allow people to go up to the very top which I thought they people could, but no. It's nice that I got to knock this out of my bookmarks, but it's not as amazing as I hoped it would be. read more

The views you'll get when hiking to this place!! Yes. If you're afraid of heights, push yourself anyway. It's an experience worth having. The journey to the lighthouse is almost better than the lighthouse itself. You'll hug the side of the mountain, cross bridges over the bluest waves, go through a dark tunnel... oh and possibly spot some seals lazing down below! The final bridge to the lighthouse is a bit rickety even though it says it was last renovated in 2012 so only 49 people can cross and be on the other side at a time. There are rangers there to help with that. Once you're on the bridge, man you'll feel like you're flying there's so much wind and sway! I loved it. It was even more intense on the walk back. And then you finally reach the lighthouse. Great views for sure but the lighthouse itself was kind of boring after all that. I mean the light was on which was cool and you get to go inside it. Very small and cramped with people not being able to give you personal space. There's some history trivia on the walls and another ranger inside to answer at questions. I'm glad we went and didn't let the idea of the trek turn us away. It's not hard at all to walk! And the walk to the lighthouse is most DEFINITELY the best part of the whole trip. read more

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If you are looking for stunning views it doesn't get any better than this! Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Pacific Ocean, the Bay, Marin Headlands; this is a prime spot for a photographer. The lighthouse is about a .5 walk down a moderately steep hill. It's not strenuous but I wouldn't recommend for the elderly or little kids. This lighthouse is definitely more unique to other ones I've been to. You get to walk through a spooky tunnel in the hill on the way down and the there is a suspension bridge that goes from the hill to the main house. It's only open Sunday and Monday 12:30-3:30 with 3 p.m. being the last entry. I'd recommend coming on the earlier side because there isn't much parking and you might have to walk far. Bonita is the first exit over the bridge so it's a good alternative to going to the Point Reyes lighthouse if you have limited time to spend. read more

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Gorgeous. I loved it! It's only open Sunday-Monday weekly from 12:30-3:30 so you have to time it just right - but it's an easy walk to the hand-made tunnel to the other side where you walk across two bridges to get to it. A short walk across a suspension bridge brings you to the old lighthouse. Friendly staff and volunteers will answer your questions. We found this lighthouse dates from the 1880s but was moved from its original location after the tunnel was dug when they realized the first location was too high when the fog rolled in and couldn't be seen...whoops. Beautiful views of San Francisco and the bay. Stunning really. Maybe my favorite lighthouse I've ever seen. Free to view. read more

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There's so much beauty at this location I don't know where to start. There's the view of the lighthouse itself (currently closed), Battery Wallace, Golden Gate Bridge, Tyler's Beach, hiking trails, and the scenic drive back with another fantastic view of the city. There's extra free parking at the YMCA if needed. Bring a bike, hiking shoes, camera, beach gear, or picnic. Lots of fun outdoor activities to enjoy. I highly recommend visiting. read more

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One result of the Marin Headlands transferring from the Army to the National Park Service is the preservation of history. And not only military history. Take a trip out to the Point Bonita Lighthouse, and you'll see what I mean. Now that the peacenicks and anti-gun crowd have cussed me out and are no longer reading this review: This is a slightly short hike to one of the oldest lighthouses on the west coast. And it's still in operation. You need to plan your trip, because it's open for only nine hours a week. Because it's still in operation, most of it is off limits to the public. Only the bottom portion is open, and it has many historical photos. Minus one star, but I understand why. They have docents on hand giving a verbal history of the lighthouse. Getting there is more than half the fun. It's a moderate half-mile hike with a steep uphill and steep downhill. Nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the other side. Awesome view of the coast. Fun suspension bridge. At one point, you can see an older house that probably houses a ranger's family, "ooooh, I'd love to live there." You may even see harbor seals swimming around and sunning themselves on the rocks. And because it's within sight of The City, you'll be sharing the trail with an international flair of tourists who know that there are very good attractions outside San Francisco. The Point Bonita Lighthouse is good for one or two visits for locals, and if you're on vacation in San Francisco, add this to your list. read more

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A beautiful day. The half-mile walk to the lighthouse is easy and fun, love the tunnel and the bridge, all the views along the trail were amazing. Along the way you'll see markers for a cell-phone tour of the site it actually works so make sure to call in to listen to some interesting facts. Overall is easy and fun, a beautiful experience. read more

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Point Bonita Lighthouse is a lighthouse located at Point Bonita at the San Francisco Bay, before you go, it's better to check the visiting hours, they usually close pretty early. It's has amazing bay views, golden bridge, if you are lucky you might get chance to see seal ions too. But there always a lot of seabirds to see. read more

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Short downhill walk, passing through a cave dug out of the cliff, to the lighthouse. Beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and Marin Headlands. We also saw harbor seals. Waited about 20 minutes in line to access lighthouse on a Sunday afternoon - but it was well worth it. Parks employees were present to share information and answer questions. read more

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