Gray's in Fashion

Whale Watching at Pigeon Point Light Station on San Mateo Coast

12.15.2016

{Note: Due to winter weather, before visiting this spot check ahead for any road and trail closures and/or hazards before heading out, and exercise good judgement for overall safety.}

Built in 1872, Pigeon Point Lighthouse is an iconic mainstay on the San Mateo Coast. It's great to visit anytime, but go in winter and get a big bonus: you might spy a gray whale migrating. And Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is one of the best places for spying them.

The best vantage point for spotting grays is a short stroll away on a boardwalk overlook. Docent tours can be booked ahead of time for a guided walk in the area. If the weather's good and the sea is calm, you can head down to adjacent Whalers Cove, a secluded beach acquired and preserved by Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST).

BONUS EVENTS 2024: Pigeon Point Lighthouse also leads guided History Walks each month.

BONUS STAY: Hostelling International’s Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of only a few accommodations on this stretch of the coast. The four guesthouses, salty and weathered, each have a private room and fully equipped kitchen and are ideally situated next to the old lighthouse. What else is sweet about this spot? Guests have access to a secluded hot tub perched above the bluffs facing the ocean. Jacuzzi jets and whale watching—hot combo!

The Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is 50 miles south of San Francisco on Hwy. 1. The address is 210 Pigeon Point Rd., Hwy. 1 Pescadero. The day-use area is open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. No dogs.

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