Punta Gorda Lighthouse(King Range National Conservation Area)

Located along the Humboldt County shoreline, Punta Gorda Lighthouse is a lighthouse which was constructed in the early 20th century. This lighthouse is situated at the base of vegetation-covered oceanfront hills and an unnamed beach is present near it, which is also known as Punta Gorda Lighthouse Beach. This beach has dark brown sand and some rocky parts. The beach near Punta Gorda Lighthouse is also a part of King Range National Conservation Area.

The beach near Punta Gorda Lighthouse does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on the beach. 

The beach near Punta Gorda Lighthouse offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, camping, hiking, and picnicking. The water near this beach is generally unsafe for recreational activities including surfing and swimming. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near Punta Gorda Lighthouse including seals and migrating whales. In addition, you can also see seals resting on the rocks present along the beach shoreline. An immensely popular hiking trail named the Lost Coast Trail also passes near this beach. This trail offers an amazing hiking experience along with beautiful Instagram-worthy views of the Northern California shoreline. Hikers hiking along the Lost Coast Trail also occasionally camp overnight near the beach. However, if you are planning to camp here, please note that you require a backcountry permit for doing so. If you are planning to camp around the beach near Punta Gorda Lighthouse, you can visit the Lost Coast Trail's webpage on the Bureau of Land Management's website for more useful information regarding camping here. While the Punta Gorda Lighthouse present near this beach was deactivated in the early 1950s, this lighthouse is currently a part of the United States’ National Register of Historic Places. As an interesting fact, this lighthouse is 27-feet tall and is often nicknamed the "Alcatraz of Lighthouses" due to its remote location. You can explore this interesting lighthouse and the vibrant meadows present around it, which also have beautiful wildflowers.

Getting to Punta Gorda Lighthouse is slightly difficult - the only way to access the beach near Punta Gorda Lighthouse is via another beach named Mattole River Beach. While Mattole River Beach is easily accessible from the town of Petrolia via Lighthouse Road, driving to the beach from the nearby towns of Ferndale and Weott can be difficult as you need to undertake a long drive along a winding road named Mattole Road to access Mattole River Beach. A free parking lot is also present near the beach. Once you reach Mattole River Beach, you need to walk four miles south along the shoreline to access the beach near Punta Gorda Lighthouse. We recommend visiting the beach wearing appropriate footwear as it is known to have lots of driftwood. In addition, we recommend visiting the beach during low tide as during high tide the beach becomes inaccessible. It is also important to note that visiting this beach during stormy weather can be significantly unsafe.

There are many attractions near Punta Gorda Lighthouse within an hour-and-50 minute drive.  The Immortal Tree is a locally renowned redwood tree which is around a thousand years old. This tree has survived many potentially fatal events including lightning, fires, and logging attempts. This tree has also survived the devastating flood which occurred in Humboldt County in 1964. This tree also has a metal fish on one of its branches, which demarcates the extent to which it was submerged during the 1964 floods. The Scotia Museum is situated in the nearby town of Scotia. This interesting museum offers a unique insight into the vibrant history of Humboldt County and Northern California. It also has interesting historical exhibits about the local lumber industry. The museum is open from Memorial Day to Labour Day between Monday and Friday. If you are looking for another attraction near Punta Gorda Lighthouse, Shrine Drive Thru Tree (also known as Shrine of the Redwoods, Redwood Shrine Tree, and Doust Tree) is a redwood tree which has a tunnel carved through it. This tunnel was possibly naturally carved through the tree by lightning more than a century ago. Ever since then, the tree has been popular among motorists who drive their vehicles through it.  The area around this tree has many points of interest including a tree-house village and a gift shop. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Punta Gorda Lighthouse within two hour’s drive. Cecil’s New Orleans Bistro offers amazing Cajun dishes.  In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing steaks. Gyppo Ale Mill offers amazing seafood, fries, chicken wings, salads, sandwiches, and burgers. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Punta Gorda Lighthouse, Poppa Joe’s offers amazing breakfast dishes including eggs and pancakes in generous portions.

If you are looking for a hotel near Punta Gorda Lighthouse, there are many great options within an hour-and-50 minute drive. The 4-Star Historic Benbow Inn was built in the 1920s and offers many amenities including a restaurant, a nine-hole golf course, a cocktail lounge, and access to a nearby seasonal pool. The hotel also offers complimentary bicycle loaner facility and afternoon tea.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Best Western Plus Humboldt House Inn that offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a computer for guests, a coin-operated laundry, and complimentary breakfast. In addition, the hotel also frequently organizes fun evening social gatherings. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Punta Gorda Lighthouse, the 2-Star THE REDWOOD RIVERWALK HOTEL offers many amenities including a pool, a coin-operated laundry, complimentary breakfast, and complimentary passes to a nearby fitness center.