Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the most picturesque lighthouses on the Pacific coast. The tower stands on a rocky promontory and has long been a landmark for ships approaching San Francisco Bay from the south. This headland, and hence the lighthouse, took its name from the ship Carrier Pigeon that wrecked here in 1853. The lantern room of the tower is no longer equipped with the original first-order, 1000-watt Fresnel lens. No longer illuminated for demonstration purposes, the lens has 24 flash panels, is composed of 1008 hand-polished lenses and prisms and is capable of producing over 500,000 candlepower illumination. It was manufactured by the Henry-LePaute company in Paris, France and was first lit at Pigeon Point at sunset on November 15, 1872.
Fog rolls in as the sun sets deep in the woods on Mount Tamplais. California’s towering redwood trees are iconic symbols of its coastline — and so is the low, rolling fog that often blankets the forests. And as it turns out, the two are linked in more than just imagery: The fog plays an important role in keeping the redwoods hydrated and healthy. Mount Tamalpais is a popular park north of San Francisco with over 50 miles of trails, many of which are through redwood forest. In winters and spring, the forest is lush green and creeks full of water.
The sky cracks open at sunset on Rodeo Beach. Located in the Fort Cronkhite area of the Marin Headlands, Rodeo Beach is one of the most special places in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area with access to multiple trails, fantastic views, a dog-friendly beach, fascinating geology, and an interesting history. As a pocket beach, the sands do not migrate up or down the coast. Instead, they are carried a short distance offshore in winter, tumble about in the surf, and then return to replenish the beach in the spring and summer. Thus, the sands of Rodeo Beach are native to the Marin Headlands and reflect the Franciscan geology of the closest hills and cliffs. This earthcache focuses on the abundant radiolarian chert and rare carnelian pebbles.
