Piedras Blancas Light Station, perched on a rugged point north of San Simeon, California, has guided mariners along the Central Coast since 1875. Originally topped with a first-order Fresnel lens and tall lantern room, the tower was shortened after storm damage in the 1940s, giving it a distinctive flat-topped silhouette. Still an active aid to navigation, the lighthouse is not open to public climbing, though guided ground tours are offered seasonally by the BLM. The best photography light comes at sunrise, when golden hues illuminate the whitewashed tower against the Pacific. Nearby, the famous Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery, Hearst Castle, and the scenic Big Sur coastline make this an essential Central Coast stop.

Explore Nearby

• Cambria State Marine Conservation Area — State Park in California
• Hearst San Simeon State Park — State Park in California
• Williams Hill — Public Land in California
• Route One, San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway — Scenic Byway in California
• Stockdale Mountain — Public Land in California