Built in 1891, Roe Island Light guided mariners through the treacherous Carquinez Strait in California’s upper San Francisco Bay. The lighthouse served as a critical navigational aid for ships transporting goods between Sacramento and San Francisco. Decommissioned and no longer active, the structure stands as a quiet relic of California’s maritime heritage.

The lighthouse is not open to the public and cannot be climbed, but it can be viewed from the water or nearby shorelines. Golden hour and foggy mornings offer the best photography conditions. Nearby attractions include the Benicia State Recreation Area, the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, and the charming waterfront town of Benicia with its antique shops and restaurants.

Explore Nearby

• Benicia Capitol State Historic Park — State Park in California
• Benicia State Recreation Area — State Park in California
• The Headlands Dark Sky Park — Dark Sky Site in Michigan
• Twin Peaks — Public Land
• Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center — Public Land