California Coastal Commission

Battery Point Lighthouse, Crescent City, © Jeff Driver

Both a working and recreational harbor, Crescent City harbor includes public wharves, restaurants, and marine-related activities. The Citizens Dock is used for public fishing, and there is a boat hoist. Bait and tackle are available, and there are fish cleaning stations, restroom, showers and parking. Visitors can watch incoming commercial fishing boats unload their catch, including shrimp and crab, and there is a fresh fish market.



Many North Coast towns enjoy close proximity to the sea and its wildlife, but few can rival the wealth of resources at the doorstep of Crescent City. California's second largest seabird colony occurs on Castle Rock, less than a mile across the water from city limits. A short stroll from downtown offers a visitor easy sightings of an osprey perched on a snag, harbor seals on the beach, or whales migrating offshore. The largest coastal lagoon complex in the western contiguous United States lies a few minutes' drive north of town, and old-growth redwood forests and California's largest undammed river are located nearby.

Trees in the Mist, Del Norte Coast © Raymond Botello, Jr.

An offshore light station that is relatively easy to get to, the Crescent Lighthouse at Battery Point is located on a small island about 200 yards from shore. Tides permitting, the island can be reached from the parking area by a short walk across the rocky beach and causeway. Tours of the lighthouse, built in 1856 and one of the first lighthouses in California, are available April to October, Wednesday to Sunday, with a fee. From the rock on which the lighthouse is located there are panoramic views of Crescent City Harbor to the east and the rocky shoreline of Pebble Beach to the northwest; on a clear day, St. George Reef Lighthouse is visible offshore, some seven miles distant.



-Excerpts from Experience the California Coast, A Guide to Beaches and Parks in Northern California, by the California Coastal Commission, available from UC Press.

More information:

• Crescent City Harbor District
• Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge
• Crescent Lighthouse at Battery Point