It Doesn’t Get Much Creepier Than This Abandoned Lighthouse Hidden in Northern California

When you think of Northern California, it is hard to imagine areas that are abandoned and left for nature to reclaim due to the state's high population, but it’s true. In fact, located in the King Range National Conservation area in Humboldt County is the Punta Gorda Lighthouse. This abandoned lighthouse in Northern California is not easy to reach and quite hidden. Plus, a visit may give you quite a fright.

The Punta Gorda Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse constructed in 1912. It is no longer active and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Today, this historic lighthouse sits completely abandoned but that’s not what makes it so unique. It also is quite hidden and located in a remote location that is quite difficult to reach.

In fact, due to this lighthouse's remote location, it is often referred to as "the Alcatraz of Lighthouses."

To reach the Punta Gorda Lighthouse, you will have to tackle a 7-mile out-and-back hiking trail.

Permits are required to access this trail and explore the King Range Wilderness. You can learn more about permits on the Recreation.gov website.

This trail is part of the Lost Coast Trail backpacking route, which can be quite challenging. The trail is extremely sandy, making it difficult to walk. There are also hills you will have to climb and parts of the trail can even be underwater during high tide.

However, the views along the way are totally worth it and once you reach the abandoned lighthouse, you are in for an incredible sight. The lighthouse itself is quite remarkable and so is the surrounding area.

But, you never know what you may encounter when you arrive.

While the lighthouse is not known to be extremely haunted, it still has a creepy and eerie feeling to it. You’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for anything strange, weird feelings, and unusual sounds during your visit. You may not even want to linger long near this site.

But, if the creepy and spine-tingling feelings become too much, continue on the trail to the beautiful sandy beach just below. You may just see a few seals enjoying the views as well.

Have you ever hiked to the Punta Gorda Lighthouse in Humboldt County before? We’d love to hear about your experiences and thoughts in the comments. And for more abandoned places to visit in Northern California, check out this road trip.