Point Sur State Historic Park and Lighthouse in Carmel, CA

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About Point Sur State Historic Park and Lighthouse in Carmel, California

The Point Sur Lighthouse on the Big Sur coast sits high up on a large volcanic rock dome looking down on a long sandy beach. The beach at Point Sur is unfortunately off-limits to the public from the lighthouse and is even signed “No Trespassing” from the fence at the highway. Cows from the El Sur Ranch roam the land between Highway 1 and the beach dunes. This beach has been proposed for acquisition by the state, but it hasn’t happened yet. The lighthouse can only be visited with a guide, but luckily the guided walking tours are frequent and inexpensive. Each tour is three hours and requires a short but steep walk up the paved road from the bottom to the top of the rock. See the Point Sur Lighthouse volunteer website to learn more about this opportunity and to see the tour schedule. The lighthouse road gate is just north of the decommissioned Naval Facility Point Sur. Just south of here is Andrew Molera State Park which has many hiking trails and an excellent beach. The next public beach to the north is Garrapata State Park which is a 10 mile drive.

Address: Cabrillo Hwy
Carmel, CA 93923
Park Name: Point Sur State Historic Park and Lighthouse
Other Names: Point Sur Beach
Owner: State Park
Pet Details: No dogs allowed on the property even in cars
Fees: Fees for guided lighthouse tours
Activities: Guided Tours, Photography
Amenities: Lighthouse
Links: Surfing Info & Web Cams
Water Temps
Tide Chart