Point Bonita Light is reopening to the public after some safety measures were improved/NPS

The Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin Headlands of Golden Gate National Recreation Area has reopened to the public with an improved safety railing and new exhibits.

The National Park Service closed the lighthouse at the mouth of San Francisco Bay on August 3 for safety improvements. The trail crew mounted new speed rail on the walkway to the lighthouse and installed powder-coated wire mesh on railings around the lighthouse perimeter. A local youth crew, the Conservation Corps North Bay, made improvements to the fence along the Point Bonita Trail.

Visitors are advised to remain cautious when hiking to the historic structure due to its age, location, and exposure to the elements. The Point Bonita Lighthouse is reached by a half-mile trail that is very steep in parts. The site is open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

While the lighthouse was closed for safety improvements, the recreation area installed new exhibits that provide a visual history of the Point Bonita Lighthouse, the people, and marine mammals that call the Golden Gate home.

The Point Bonita Lighthouse, built in 1855, and was the third lighthouse built on the West Coast to help shepherd ships through the treacherous Golden Gate straits. Today, the lighthouse is still active and is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. The National Park Service provides access to visitors.