Rising from the shallow waters off Elliott Key, Florida, Pacific Reef Light has guided mariners through the treacherous reefs of Biscayne Bay since 1921. This skeletal steel tower, built on screw-pile foundations, replaced earlier aids to navigation that succumbed to hurricanes and corrosion. Its utilitarian design is characteristic of the offshore reef lights that dot South Florida’s coast.

The light remains active and is not open to the public—there is no climbing access. It is best photographed during golden hour from a boat, with the Miami skyline faintly visible to the north. Nearby, Biscayne National Park offers world-class snorkeling, kayaking through mangrove channels, and the pristine beaches of Elliott Key.

Explore Nearby

• Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park — State Park in Florida
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park — State Park in Florida
• Florida Keys Scenic Highway — Scenic Byway in Florida
• Big Cypress National Preserve — Dark Sky Site in Florida