Point Bonita Lighthouse is a lighthouse located at Point Bonita at the San Francisco Bay entrance in the Marin Headlands near Sausalito, California. Point Bonita was the last manned lighthouse on the California coast.
The original Point Bonita Lighthouse, a 56-foot (17 m) brick tower, was located too high. Unlike the East Coast of the United States, the West Coast has dense high fog, which leaves lower elevations clear. The original light was 306 feet (93 m) above sea level so the second order Fresnel lens was often cloaked in fog and could not be seen from the sea. In 1877, the lighthouse was moved to its current location at 124 feet (38 m) above sea level. The United States Coast Guard currently maintains the light and fog signal. It is accessible to the public during limited hours (12:30 PM–3:30 PM) on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. Up until 1940 the lighthouse could be reached without a bridge, but erosion caused a trail leading to the lighthouse to crumble into the sea. A wooden walkway was installed, but when that became treacherous the suspension bridge was built in 1954. A new span reopened April 13, 2012. The new bridge construction cost a little over $1 million. It is made of tropical hardwood with steel suspension cables and attachments.
Just off of a hiking/biking trail. Not much shade on some of the trails. Be sure to bring plenty of water. You may get wet feet and bug spray is recommended depending on the season.
Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. The scenic Myakka River flows through 57 square miles of wetlands, prairies and woodlands. The park is popular for hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife observation.
As of January 2017, the Park Entrance Fees are as follows:
• $6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle
• $4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.
• $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
• $60.00 Bus Tour Fee (30+ people).
• $2.00 per person, Bus Tour Fee (less than 30 people).
Placed with permission of Park Manager Steve Giguere