Three Reasons Why You Should Visit the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands

There’s no denying that the drive along the California coast is rich in gorgeous scenery and cliff-side views.  The Pacific Coast Highway is renowned for its beauty, so when I was recently presented with the chance to take a quick getaway up the coast, I leapt at the opportunity.

We headed for Point Arena, a small beach community centered around a small, natural cove. The city’s largest attraction is the storied Lighthouse, erected in the 1870s. In addition, the Point Arena Lighthouse is situated just north of the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands, a California Coastal National Monument.

Let it be known that I am a huge sucker for gorgeous landscapes, and anything considered old-fashioned, historical, and one-of-a-kind. As such, I thoroughly enjoyed our time visiting the Point Arena-Stornetta lands, and I can’t recommend it enough if you’re in the area!

Read on for just three reasons why the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands are well worth the visit.

Climb to the Top

Fun Fact: The Point Arena lighthouse is the tallest on the western coast of the mainland United States! And with a small contribution of $7, visitors are able to ascend to the top of the tower, making for a fun, unique experience when visiting Point Arena-Stornetta.

There is just under 150 steps to the top, so it is not too physically strenuous. In addition, there are several landings along the way allowing for a quick break if necessary.

Once at the top, a lighthouse tour guide provides some quick history and background information about the tower. Before and after pictures are provided in front of a sinkhole known as Devil’s Punchbowl, which has nearly eroded away over time.

The view from the top is a stellar panoramic of the rocky coast, providing a better understanding of the storied shipwrecks and the need for the Point Arena lighthouse in the first place. And, if you’re lucky, submerged rocks won’t be the only thing you see from the top!

Wildlife Watching

As previously mentioned, the Point Arena Lighthouse is situated just north of the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands, a section of land that is federally protected in an effort to conserve the unique landscape and biodiversity of the area. The lands are home to a few unique species and also offer prime whale watching between the months of November and May, which is when the huge mammals make their way south for the colder months.

One of the biggest highlights of our trip was being able to say that we saw gray whales! Our guide paused his brief speech about the history of the lighthouse to point out a whale that had spouted from its blowhole. He hurriedly wrapped up his speech and allowed us the rest of the time for questions and whale watching.

We never got a very clear view of the whale from the top of the lighthouse, but we were able to follow its movements each time it surfaced for air.

We had better luck just south of the lighthouse in the Stornetta lands, where we found multiple seals swimming in the rocky waves. The seals were actually very interested in their upright, human neighbors and swam closer toward us so we could get some cool shots!

Stargazing

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, so light pollution is something that I have grown accustomed to despite being a huge astrophile. As a result, I savor any and every opportunity I have to stargaze during my travels!

A trip up the Pacific Coast Highway to the Point Arena-Stornetta lands allows for one of the most spectacular views of the galaxy that I have ever seen. I’ve stargazed in Europe, Central America, and Australia, and nothing has come close to the view of the edge of the Milky Way that I experienced in Point Arena.

We accessed the Stornetta lands using the same highway turnout as the lighthouse. After a small five to ten minute hike south of the lighthouse, we set up the camera and stared in awe at the sight above us.

The Stornetta lands are shrouded in darkness come nightfall, creating the perfect atmosphere for some prime stargazing. We planned our trip around the new moon and were met with a view so spectacular, it seemed as though the edge of the Milky Way galaxy was the seam of a a dome overhead.

FYI: The beam of light protruding from the lighthouse comes in 15 second intervals, so capturing a shot like this one was all about impeccable timing!

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If you’ve ever driven up the California coast, you’ve likely seen firsthand the absolute natural beauty that the golden state has to offer. This particular stretch of coastline is a national treasure, and definitely worth the visit.