Yerba Buena Light

Perched on the rocky shore of Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay, this historic lighthouse has guided mariners since 1875, making it one of the oldest on the California coast. The modest white tower replaced earlier fog signal stations that proved insufficient for the bay’s notoriously thick fog. Yerba Buena Light remains an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation, notable as one of the last staffed lighthouses in the country before automation. The station is not open to the public, as the island houses Coast Guard facilities. Photographers capture stunning shots from the Bay Bridge or passing ferries, particularly at sunset. Nearby, explore Treasure Island’s shops, the Bay Bridge Trail, and San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront.

Explore Nearby

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• McLaughlin Eastshore State Park State Seashore — State Park in California
• Twin Peaks — Public Land
• The Headlands Dark Sky Park — Dark Sky Site in Michigan
• Mission Crossing Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in North Carolina