Santa Cruz Light stands at the northern tip of Santa Cruz Harbor, guiding vessels along California’s central coast since 1870. The original brick lighthouse served keepers for over a century before being replaced by the current structure, which remains an active navigational aid under the U.S. Coast Guard. Though not open to the public for climbing, the lighthouse and its surrounding grounds offer excellent views of Monterey Bay. Golden hour and foggy mornings produce the most dramatic photographs, with the harbor and distant cliffs as backdrops. Nearby, visitors can explore the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, stroll the Municipal Wharf, or walk the coastal bluffs at Natural Bridges State Beach, all within a short drive.

Explore Nearby

• New Brighton State Beach — State Park in California
• Twin Lakes State Beach — State Park in California
• California Powder Works Bridge — Covered Bridge in California
• Felton Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in California
• in the scenic Turtle Mountain Wilderness area — Public Land in California