I felt like going for a drive, and it was the most beautiful day outside. It was like summer arrived early. After over an hour of driving through winding roads probably best tackled by a motorcycle, I eventually made my way down the long, narrow, single-lane road to the lighthouse parking lot. I was the first one in the parking lot and ready for a day filled with adventure. Surprisingly, the lighthouse is about a ten-minute walk from the parking lot. At first glimpse of the lighthouse, I felt excited and eager to see it up close. 

The Start

Leaving the parking lot, I walked through the forest and crossed a road leading to residential houses. Before the path to the lighthouse, there was a list of warnings and safety precautions at the gate. It was a good thing I did not show up any early because I did not check the hours beforehand, and the lighthouse does not open until 9 am during the winter.

The Lighthouse

Seeing the lighthouse was so exciting! The mountains were the perfect combination of pastel blues framing the rising sun. I was unsure what to expect once I got closer and how much of the area was safe to explore.

Attached to the lighthouse is a lookout point. I relaxed and enjoyed a snack on what felt like the edge of the world. Unfortunately, the lighthouse door was locked, and there was no lighthouse keeper. I sat directly under a speaker connected to the ocean to hear whales passing by. Although I did not hear any whales, I did see a cormorant and a few sea lions swimming around and poking their noses up in the air. They were so close I could almost see their whiskers.

While sitting on the lookout for whales, I read the brochure about Sheringham Point Lighthouse. I learned that it has a preservation society, and there is a long history behind it. On the website, I discovered a school program associated with the lighthouse. There are links to ebooks with writing from students who visited the lighthouse on the school program page. There is also a section dedicated to the oral history and includes an interview from former Sherighman lighthouse keepers.

It was not as high up as it felt from the lookout platform, but staring directly down was still worrisome. Seeing the danger signs and conglomeration of bone-crushing-looking rocks, I kept my distance from the edge.

Sheringham Point Reference Mark

“Turning point II of the Canadian and United States Boundary between the 49th Parallel and the Pacific Ocean is 11170.4 meters S 37°10’49” W of this monument (North American Datum of 1927)”

Around the Lighthouse

First signs of Spring!

There is a 3.9km trail behind the lighthouse, but it was not a hiking day. Instead, I wandered around the area and went for lunch at Shirley Delicious. I had the vegan yam burrito, and it was delicious! After leaving, I immediately regretted not trying any baked goods. 

On the day I did not do a long hike, I remembered to record myself. You can see how I stayed in the same place mostly or walked back and forth a lot. Despite the long drive, I cannot wait to return for a hike and the food!