Pensacola Lighthouse
Required tasks: Please take a picture, with you (or a personal item) and the lighthouse in the background. Include this picture in your log entry. Also, what is the temperature at the time of your visit?
Recommended / Not required: Climb all 177 steps to the top and take a look at the airfield, the top of the lighthouse, and Fort Pickens. Visit the Maritime Museum, the exhibits, and the selfie stand.
Established in 1859, is the tallest lighthouse on the Gulf of Mexico, standing 151 feet tall with its light positioned 191 feet above sea level. Located on Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, it remains an active aid to navigation and uniquely retains its original first-order Fresnel lens, one of only 13 still operational in the U.S.. Beyond the tower, visitors can explore a comprehensive museum housed in the restored 1869 Keeper's Quarters, which features exhibits ranging from indigenous history and the Civil War to the evolution of maritime technology and the influential "Women Who Lit the Way".
As of February 2026, civilian public access to the lighthouse is available daily through the NAS Pensacola West Gate (Blue Angel Parkway) from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. All visitors aged 18 and older must present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or a valid U.S. Passport for entry; foreign nationals must be escorted by a U.S. citizen in the same vehicle. General admission is typically $9.50 for adults and $6.50 for children, seniors, and military, with the site officially closing at 4:00 PM and the last tickets sold at 3:40 PM.
To experience the panoramic views of the Gulf Coast, guests must climb 177 cast iron steps while adhering to strict safety rules. Climbers must be at least 44 inches tall and 7 years old, and children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult; for safety, baby carriers and "wearing" children are strictly prohibited on the tower. Additionally, all climbers must wear shoes with a secured back—flip-flops and slides are not allowed, though the museum permits guests to climb barefoot if their footwear is non-compliant
Virtual Rewards 5.0 - 2026-2027
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between February 3, 2026 and February 3, 2027. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 5.0 on the Geocaching Blog.