St. George Reef Light stands as one of America’s most remote and costly lighthouse projects, rising from a wave-battered reef six miles off Crescent City, California. Completed in 1892 after more than a decade of difficult construction, it was built in response to the tragic 1865 sinking of the Brother Jonathan, which claimed over 200 lives. The granite tower endured punishing Pacific storms until its decommissioning. The lighthouse is not open to the public and cannot be climbed, though a nonprofit preservation group occasionally arranges helicopter visits. For photography, calm days in summer offer the best conditions for boat-based shots. Nearby, explore Battery Point Lighthouse, Jedediah Smith Redwoods, and Crescent City’s scenic harbor.
Explore Nearby
- Tolowa Dunes State Park — State Park in California
- Pelican State Beach — State Park in California
- Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest — National Forest in Oregon, California
- Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside — Public Land in Oregon
- Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside — Public Land in Oregon
