The Point Bonita Lighthouse is the only US lighthouse at the end of a suspension bridge.
The Point Bonita Lighthouse is across the Golden Gate Bridge in the southwestern tip of the Marin Headlands.
The only access to the Point Bonita Lighthouse is along a 1/2 mile trail, that passes through a handcarved tunnel and across a suspension bridge to the edge of the world! Check limited opening hours here.
The lighthouse was constructed in 1855 to protect mariners at the treacherous entrance to the San Francisco Bay, that claimed 300 shipwrecks during the Gold Rush era.
10 BEST things to do at Point Bonita Lighthouse
1. Start the half mile walk to the Point Bonita Lighthouse
Park at at the Point Bonita Lighthouse lot in the southwest Marin Headlands, and follow the signs to the 1/2 mile trail out to the lighthouse. (Try the Battery Alexander parking lot if the Point Bonita Lighthouse lot is full).
2. Enjoy soaring views above Bonita Cove as you walk along the trail.
3. Peer down at secluded beaches, inaccessible from the cliff-top trail.
4. Look for the remains of an old pier in Bonita Cove.
5. Walk through a hand-carved tunnel dug by Chinese workmen in the 1870s.
When the Point Bonita Lighthouse was moved to a lower location in 1877, Chinese workmen dug an 118-foot tunnel through hard rock to access it. The Old Point Bonita Lighthouse was originally built at a higher elevation in 1855, roughly 300 feet above sea level. However it wasn't visible to ships at this higher elevation due to the marine fog, and needed to be moved lower.
The tunnel door to the Point Bonita Lighthouse is only open limited hours. If the door is closed go to the nearby overlook at the end of Mendell Road to see distant views the Point Bonita Lighthouse. This overlook has high cliffs, so be careful with kids.
6. Enjoy the stunning vistas on the other side of the tunnel, all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge.
7. Look out at the old army buildings visible across the water.
8. Walk along the suspension bridge to reach Point Bonita Lighthouse.
The suspension bridge wasn’t originally there when the Point Bonita Lighthouse was moved, and was only constructed when the path eroded. Check out those sheer cliffs on either side of the suspension bridge!
The main span of the suspension bridge runs 156 feet, with a 55 foot approach on the west, and 33 foot approach on the east.
9. Walk around the Point Bonita Lighthouse.
The Point Bonita Lighthouse is still an active national aid maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, and is therefore not open for tours. However, you can still watch its distinctive light pattern of 3 seconds on, 1 second off, and listen to the electric horn if fog reaches the lower elevation.
Continue down the stairs to the Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters buildings on the lower ledge. Stand on the edge of the world with soaring views across the San Francisco Straits!
10. Explore other cool attractions at the Marin Headlands.
There's so many other attractions at the Marin Headlands, like coastal trails, abandoned military forts, a Visitor Center, and Cold War missile site.
Know before you go
- Location: Marin Headlands (Golden Gate National Recreation Area).
- Lighthouse hours: Check here.
- Trail length: 0.5 miles.
- Parking: Limited parking at Bonita Lighthouse, so try the Battery Alexander Parking lot, 0.3 miles away.
- Marin Headlands Visitor Center: Fort Barry, Building 948, Sausalito, CA 94965.
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