Lighthouses of Canada: West Central Ontario (Lake Huron Area)

Lambton County Lighthouses

Grand Bend Lighthouse

* [Grand Bend (2)]

Date unknown. Active (maintained by the municipality of Lambton Shores); focal plane 9 m (30 ft); green flash every 4 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round cylindrical fiberglass tower painted white with a green band at the top. A 2022 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Pavlo Kobsar has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. Wikimedia has Marcus Obal's 2008 photo of the original metal tower. Located on the breakwater on the north side of entrance to Grand Bend harbor in Lambton Shores. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Municipality of Lambton Shores. . ARLHS CAN-1422; CCG I-774.

Huron County Lighthouses

Goderich Lighthouses

The county seat of Huron County, Goderich is a town of about 7500 residents located at the mouth of the Maitland River.

* Goderich Main (2) 1847 (station established early 1830s). Active (maintained by the town of Goderich); focal plane 42.5 m (140 ft); two white flashes (separated by 6 s) every 25 s. 11 m (35 ft) square cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern and gallery painted red. 2023 photo is at right, C.M. Hanchey has a 2012 photo, Corey Seeman has a closeup, Dax Patel has a 2022 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is the oldest Canadian light station on Lake Huron. The lighthouse replaced a pair of range lights. The attached keeper's house was demolished in 1985, an unfortunate loss of a historic building. The town purchased the lighthouse from the Crown for $1 in 2003. Located in a town park atop a high bluff at the end of West and Lighthouse Streets in Goderich; also accessible by climbing a long set of stairs from the beach along Cove Road. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Town of Goderich. . ARLHS CAN-546; CCG I-777; USCG 7-12660. Goderich South Breakwater 1909. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) square white concrete tower rising from a square white concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse Digest has a closeup photo, Corey Seeman has a foggy 2010 view, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view from shore. Located at the end of the detached south breakwater sheltering Goderich harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1013; CCG I-779. Goderich North Breakwater 1909. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); green flash every 4 s. 6 m (20 ft) square pyramidal unpainted concrete tower. C.M. Hanchey has a photo and a photo showing both breakwater lights, another page for the light has Walter Lewis's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the detached north breakwater sheltering Goderich harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1009; CCG I-778. [Goderich North Pier Range Front (3?)] Date unknown (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 10.5 m (34 ft); continuous red light. 9 m (29 ft) round cylindrical white "Claymar" tower carrying a daymark colored white with an orange vertical stripe. Syeed Hasan has a street view across the river and Google has a satellite view. The original temporary lights were replaced in 1908 by square skeletal towers with enclosed upper portion; Lighthouse Digest has a Coast Guard historic photo of the front light. Located at the end of the north pier. Site and tower closed (industrial area). Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1010; CCG I-780.

Goderich Main Light, Goderich, November 2023 Instagram photo by photojenictravel

[Goderich North Pier Range Rear (3?)]

Date unknown (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); continuous red light. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical skeletal mast, painted white, carrying a daymark colored white with an orange vertical stripe. Syeed Hasan has a street view across the river and Google has a satellite view. The original temporary lights were replaced in 1908 by square skeletal towers with enclosed upper portion; Lighthouse Digest has a Coast Guard historic photo of the rear light. Located 180 m (590 ft) east of the front light. Site and tower closed (industrial area). Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1011; CCG I-781.

Bruce County Lighthouses

Huron-Kinloss Lighthouse

**** Point Clark

1859 (John Brown). Active; focal plane 28.5 m (93 ft); white flash every 10 s. 26.5 m (87 ft) round limestone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. The original 1-1/2 story stone keeper's house is now a museum. A 1-story garage is also preserved. Celeste Murray's 2024 photo is at the top of this page, Ryan Prosper has a 2022 photo, Bash has a 2004 photo, John Vetterli has a photo, Wikimedia has many photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a 2013 street view and a satellite view. Of the six Imperial Towers built by John Brown on Lake Huron this is the best known and most accessible. It became a national historic site in 1967. The Township of Huron-Kinloss maintains the site and operates the museum. The 150th anniversary of the lighthouse was celebrated in August 2009. Saving this historic lighthouse required extraordinary efforts. In April 2010 the federal government announced a grant of $495,000 for restoration of the tower's stonework. When work began in August engineers found that the exterior wall was crumbling and unsafe; clearly the grant would not be adequate for needed repairs. In July 2011 Parks Canada awarded a $622,000 contract for a more complete restoration. Once again the contractor quickly found that the lighthouse was in much worse condition than anticipated and in October work was stopped pending completion of a new restoration plan. In January 2012 it was announced that work would resume but all work had stopped by June due to concerns about the safety of the building. A new contract was awarded for a complete restoration beginning in summer 2013. The project involved careful and complicated work to strengthen the deteriorated outer and inner walls of the tower. It was finally completed in the spring of 2015 at a total cost of $3.7 million. The tower reopened for the 2015 season on June 27. In 2022 the Ontario Trillium Foundation granted $117,100 to upgrade the museum in the keeper's house. In 2012 the lighthouse was recognized as a Heritage Lighthouse. Point Clark is a prominent cape, opposite the northern tip of Michigan's "Thumb" peninsula, marking the narrowing of southern Lake Huron. Located in Point Clark, off ON 21 about 35 km (20 mi) south of Kincardine and 65 km (40 mi) north of Goderich. Site open; museum and tower open daily (small admission fee) from late June to Labour Day (early September). Owner: Parks Canada (Point Clark Lighthouse National Historic Site). Site manager: Township of Huron-Kinloss. . ARLHS CAN-388; CCG I-782; USCG 7-12670.

Kincardine Lighthouses

Kincardine is a town of about 11,000 residents at the mouth of the Penetangore River. [Kincardine Sector (Range Front) (3?)] Date unknown (1980? station established 1874). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); one long and two short flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) mast carrying a daymark colored white with an orange vertical stripe. User-activated foghorn (3 s blast every 30 s). Anderson has a photo and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. The original lighthouse, a square wood tower, was replaced in 1903 by a square skeletal tower. Located at the end of the north pier at Kincardine. Accessible with caution by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS CAN-812; CCG I-783. **** Kincardine (Range Rear) 1881. Active (privately maintained since 1980); focal plane 24 m (80 ft); red flash every 5 s. 19 m (63 ft) octagonal frame tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 2-story stone and frame keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; the lantern and gallery are red and the tower has an orange-red vertical stripe marking what was formerly a range line (the front range light has been replaced by a sector light). A 2023 photo is at right, Denny Goddard has a 2023 closeup photo, another fine closeup photo is available, Bash has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This unusual lighthouse is one of the best known landmarks of the Lake Huron shoreline. In 1980 it was officially deactivated but leased to the local yacht club, which has continued to operate the light. The club has a page for the lighthouse. The keeper's house, formerly the headquarters of the yacht club, now includes a small maritime museum exhibiting artifacts on loan from the Bruce County Museum. Guided tours of the tower are available when the museum is open. Repairs to the foundation were scheduled for 2013 but delayed to 2014. In June 2015 the municipality applied for federal grants to cover part of the cost of a complete restoration, estimated at about $675,000. Located on Huron Terrace at Harbour Street in downtown Kincardine. Site open; museum and tower open daily (small admission fee) from July 1 to Labor Day. Owner: Municipality of Kincardine. Operator/site manager: Kincardine Yacht Club. . ARLHS CAN-264; CCG I-784.

Kincardine Light, Kincardine, August 2023 Instagram photo by Vixbam teardrop travels

Saugeen Shores Lighthouses

The Town of Saugeen Shores was formed by merging Saugeen Township with the former towns of Southampton and Port Elgin. Southampton is located at the mouth of the Saugeen River.

* [Port Elgin Range Rear]

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); continuous green light. 12.5 m (41 ft) square skeletal mast. Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on Harbour Street at the rear of Port Elgin harbor. Site open, tower closed. CCG I-787.

McNab Point (Southampton Harbour Range Rear)

1877 (relocated in 1901). Inactive in the early 1970s and since 1989. 8.5 m (28 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern; lantern painted red. Adrian Duyzer has a 2022 photo, James Hatcher has a 2009 photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view of the point. This lighthouse was originally located on the north side of Horseshoe Bay south of Southampton. When a new range was established in 1901 the light was relocated to McNabb (or McNab) Point, the tip of the peninsula south of Horseshoe Bay. The range was discontinued in the 1950s and the light was renamed the Southampton Harbour Light. It was deactivated for a short time in the early 1970s and reactivated in 1974 as the McNab Point Light. In 1988 the Coast Guard covered the lighthouse with white aluminum siding, which caused the underlying wood to rot. In 2008 the Marine Heritage Society leased the lighthouse, removed the siding, and restored the tower to its original appearance. The Society hopes to reactivate the light as a private aid to navigation. In 2012 the lighthouse was recognized as a Heritage Lighthouse. Located in an area of vacation homes; there's no public access. Visible from the water or distantly from Chantry Island Light. Site and tower closed. Owner: Town of Saugeen Shores. Site manager: Southampton Marine Heritage Society . ARLHS CAN-643.

*** Chantry Island 1859 (John Brown). Active; focal plane 31 m (103 ft); white flash every 4 s. 26 m (86 ft) round limestone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. The original 2nd order Fresnel lens remains in use. Original 1-1/2 story stone keeper's house, recently restored. Mark Totten's photo is at right, Anderson has a good page for the lighthouse, an excellent 2007 photo and a closeup photo are available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Tim Scott has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. This is one of the six Imperial Towers built by John Brown on Lake Huron. The Supporters of Chantry Island (now the Southampton Marine Heritage Society) formed in 1998 to work for restoration of the light station, and through their efforts the keeper's house has been restored and furnished and the boat house rebuilt. In 2008 the Town of Saugeen Shores leased the lighthouse from the Coast Guard. In 2011 the town began negotiations to take title to the lighthouse and the other three lights within town limits. However, transfer of this lighthouse has been delayed pending resolution of first nation land claims. The island is a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Located on the east side of the island about 1 mile off the Southampton beachfront; visible from the end of Beach Street in Southampton. Accessible only by boat; the preservation group offers guided tours (fee; reservations required) on weekends beginning in late May and daily from late June through Labour Day (early September). Site and tower generally closed (wildlife preservation area) except for the guided tours. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Southampton Marine Heritage Society . ARLHS CAN-619; CCG I-788. * Stokes Bay Range Rear (1) (relocated to Southampton) 1904. Recently deactivated (sometime in the 1990s). Originally this was a 19.5 m (64 ft) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower with lantern and gallery; the top 1/5 of the tower was enclosed. Anderson has a 2008 photo. In 2009 the Coast Guard announced it would replace the lighthouse. The county then arranged to have the enclosed section of the lighthouse relocated by helicopter to the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre in Southampton, where it was restored. Bev White has a September 2010 photo of the relocated and freshly repainted lighthouse. The lighthouse was rededicated on 11 June 2011. R.J. Rauen has a closeup 2022 photo and lighthouse is surrounded by trees in Google's indistinct satellite view. Located at the museum overlooking Fairy Lake on Victoria Street north of High Street in Southampton. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre. ARLHS CAN-625; ex-CCG I-798.

Chantry Island Light, Southampton, September 2017 Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Muhammad Imran Saeed

* Saugeen River Range Front (2) 1903 (station established 1883). Active; two lights on one tower: (1) Saugeen Light, focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous white light; and (2) Saugeen River Range Front Light, focal plane 10 m (34 ft), continuous green light visible only on and near the range line. 11 m (36 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim and a red vertical stripe on the range line; lantern roof is red. User-activated fog horn (3 s blast every 20 s). A 2023 photo is at right, Bash has a good photo, Mary Margaret Peralta has a 2021 photo, Dian Milouchev has a street view and Google has a satellite view. The original light was on a mast at the end of the pier. The town took ownership of the two range lights in June 2012 and both were recognized as Heritage Lighthouses. Winter storms and high lake levels damaged the lighthouse in 2019 and 2020, but the lighthouse was restored in a comprehensive project in 2023. Architectural Conservancy Ontario honored the restiration with an award in Octover 2024. Located at the end of the breakwater on the north side of the Saugeen River entrance and at the end of Rankin Street in Southampton. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Municipality of Saugeen Shores. Site manager: Southampton Marine Heritage Society . ARLHS CAN-626; CCG I-790. * Saugeen River Range Rear (2) 1903 (uncertain when a rear light was first added). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); continuous green light visible only on and near the range line. 10 m (33 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim and a red vertical stripe on the range line; lantern roof is red. Bash has a photo, Max Derkach has a 2020 photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This lighthouse is a well known Southampton landmark. When the Coast Guard began to replace its shingles with aluminum siding in 1989 public protests convinced them to mount new shingles instead. The town took ownership of the two range lights in June 2012 and both were recognized as Heritage Lighthouses. Located on South Rankin Street on the east side of ON 21. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Municipality of Saugeen Shores. Site manager: Southampton Marine Heritage Society . ARLHS CAN-627; CCG I-791.

Saugeen River Range Front Light, Southampton, 2023 Instagram photo by Keith’s iPhone Pix

Northern Bruce Peninsula Lighthouses
The scenic Bruce Peninsula separates Georgian Bay from the main body of Lake Huron. The peninsula is about 80 km (50 mi) long and generally 10-15 km (6-9 mi) wide. Located about a three hour drive northwest of Toronto it is a very popular vacation destination. Ontario Highway 6 runs the length of the peninsula and then crosses the mouth of Georgian Bay by ferry to Manitoulin Island. The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula was formed in 1999 by merging the communities of St. Edmunds, Lindsay, Eastnor, and Lion's Head.

Lyal Island (2) Late 1960s (station established 1885). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13.5 m (44 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a large rectangular daymark painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo of the active light is available and Google has only an indistinct satellite view. The original lighthouse, a square wood tower attached to a keeper's house, was demolished in 1973; foundation ruins can be seen. Located at the west point of Lyal Island, an island in the mouth of Stokes Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1073; CCG I-796. Stokes Bay Range Front (Knife Island) (1) 1904. Deactivated sometime in the 1990s. 10 m (33 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim and a red vertical stripe on the range line. The active light (focal plane 9.5 m (31 ft); red flash every 4 s) was moved to a cylindrical tower built immediately in front of the historic light. A photo is at right, a 2022 photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view. The Bruce Peninsula Lightkeepers Association raises funds to restore and maintain the lighthouse. In 2014 the Coast Guard secured funds for environmental cleanup of the station, a necessary step before ownership can be transferred to the BPLA. In 2015 the cleanup project was completed and the exterior of the lighthouse was restored. As of early 2017 the Association was still waiting on ownership of the lighthouse, with fundraising continuing. The 2022 photo shows their work's progress. Located on an island in Stokes Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-624. Active light: CCG I-797. Stokes Bay Range Rear (2) 2009 (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); continuous red light. 22 m (72 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a red rectangular daymark. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The enclosed upper portion of the original lighthouse was relocated to Southampton (see above). Located on the mainland shore 1219 m (0.76 mi) east northeast of the front light. Site open (best accessed by boat), tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. CCG I-798.

Knife Island (Stokes Bay Range Front) Light, Bruce Peninsula, June 2021 Facebook photo from Knife Island Lighthouse Restoration Project

* Big Tub (Lighthouse Point, Tobermory) 1885. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous red light. 12.5 m (41 ft) hexagonal frame tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Martin Bieber's 2022 photo is at the top of this page, Firda Beka has a good photo, Rick Almeida has a 2018 photo, Andrew Kisliakov has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Clay Morehead has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. A well known symbol of Tobermory, the lighthouse stands at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. In 1985 the Friends of Bruce District Parks improved the grounds and installed a walkway. The lighthouse was repaired after being heavily damaged by a storm in 1987. The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula has applied for ownership of the lighthouse. The lighthouse suffered some damage in a storm in November 2019; repairs were underway in summer 2020. Located at the end of Big Tub Road, which circles Big Tub Harbour from the ferry terminal. Site open, parking provided, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula. . ARLHS CAN-549; CCG I-815. Cove Island (Isle of Coves) 1858 (John Brown). Active; focal plane 31 m (101 ft); white flash every 5 s. 24 m (80 ft) round limestone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story stone keepers house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern is red. Of the six Imperial Tower light stations of Lake Huron, this is the most complete: the fog signal building, boathouse, two assistant keeper's houses, outbuildings and dock all remain. A 2023 photo is at right, Ken Chadwick has a 2022 photo, Simon Chambers has a good 2007 photo, Bash has a view from the lake, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The Cove Island Lightstation Heritage Association , formed in 2005, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Coast Guard to restore and preserve the light station. Volunteers from the Association have cleaned the tower and painted the keeper's house. In May 2015 a $200,000 restoration was announced, to include repairs to the keeper's house plus restoration of the stonework and repainting the light tower. Located at Gig Point on the northern corner of the island, marking the entrance to the main channel into Georgian Bay from Lake Huron. Accessible only by boat. Visible from the ferry carrying ON 6 between Tobermory and South Baymouth. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Parks Canada (Fathom Five National Marine Park). . ARLHS CAN-149; CCG I-805; USCG 7-12675.

Cove Island Light, Cove Island, August 2023 Instagram photo by tobermorycanada

** Flowerpot Island (3)

1968 (station established 1897). Active; focal plane 28 m (91 ft); continuous white light. Approx. 15 m (50 ft) square skeletal mast attached to a 1-story equipment building and carrying rectangular daymark panels colored red with a broad white horizontal band. The principal keeper's house (1901) is open for tours, and the assistant keeper's house (1959) provides housing for volunteer keepers in season. A boathouse (1963) is also preserved. Huelse has a historic postcard view and Google has a satellite view of the station, a 2014 street view of the light tower, and a street view of the station buildings. The original lighthouse had a lantern atop a 2-story keeper's house; it was destroyed in 1969. Allison Durno has a 2006 view from the lake showing an earlier light tower, square pyramidal and covered with silver-colored daymark panels. In 1995 the Friends of Bruce District Parks signed a memorandum of understanding with the Coast Guard to restore the surviving buildings. In summer 2005 work came to a temporary halt when the government demanded that the volunteer group assume all public liability for the site; fortunately this issue was resolved within a few weeks. In 2015 the light station was designated a Heritage Lighthouse. The island, part of Fathom Five National Marine Park, is accessible by passenger ferry daily from mid May through September. Located on Castle Bluff at the northeastern point of the island about 7 km (4 mi) northeast of Tobermory. Site open (park entry fee); museum open daily from mid May to the end of September; tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Friends of Bruce District Parks and Parks Canada (Flower Pot Island). . ARLHS CAN-181; CCG I-819.

Cabot Head (1) 1896. Inactive since 1971. Approx. 11 m (35 ft) square cylindrical wood tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with red trim and red roof; lantern is red. Original lantern removed but replaced by a replica. Roger Caughell's 2021 photo is at right, Anderson has a fine page for the lighthouse, James Rizzo has a 2017 photo, Steve Urszenyi has a 2009 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This lighthouse was restored in the 1980s by the Friends of Cabot Head and was operated as a museum. In 2017 the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced that mercury contamination discovered on the site would require the station to be closed for the 2017 season. Cleanup continued through the summer of 2018. Work continued in 2019 with a focus on exterior abatement and repainting, fencing of the old fog alarm building area, and soil remediation. The lighthouse was expected to reopen for the 2020 season but the Covid crisis prevented that reopening. Then a new obstacle appeared: the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula decided it could no longer allow or support access to the light station over an unmaintained road that passes through private property. The Friends group announced that the station was closed indefinitely. In July 2021 the Trillium Foundation awarded a grant of $124,000 to rebuild the road as a wilderness trail for hikers and bicyclists. As of 2024 the station remains closed. Located on the point of Cabot Head, on the east side of the peninsula about 20 km (13 mi) miles north of Dyer Bay on the shore road. Site, museum and tower closed since 2017. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Ontario Parks (Cabot Head Provincial Park). . ARLHS CAN-067. Cabot Head (2) 1971 (station established 1896). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 15 s. 13 m (42 ft) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower, painted white. Located next to the historic lighthouse. Site and tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Ontario Parks (Cabot Head Provincial Park). CCG I-826.

Cabot Head Light, Bruce Peninsula, April 2021 Instagram photo by Roger Caughell

Lion's Head Harbour (4) (replica 2) 2020 replica of 1911 lighthouse (station established 1903). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim. R.G. Daniel has a good closeup, a 2021 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The original light on a pole was replaced by a square lighthouse in 1911. That lighthouse survived being blown off the pier twice by storms as well as a 1933 fire. It was replaced with a post light in 1969 and demolished. A replica was built by local high school students in 1983 and stood nearby on the beach until 2000, when the post light was damaged by a storm. The replica was then moved to the end of the pier and activated. Another storm in October 2019 ripped siding off the tower and left several holes in the building, and a furious storm in January 2020 collapsed the lighthouse. Work to rebuild the lighthouse in a safer configuration began in June 2020 and was completed by October. Located on the pier at Lion's Head, off ON 6 on the east side of the peninsula about 65 km (40 mi) southeast of Tobermory. Site open. Owner/site manager: Town of Lion's Head . . ARLHS CAN-276; CCG I-825. Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Lighthouses * Cape Croker (2) 1909 (station established 1898). Active; focal plane 18.5 m (61 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens, removed in 2007 for fear of vandalism, is on display at the Bruce County Museum in Southampton. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery red. The 1-story keeper's house was demolished sometime before 2008. A 2024 photo is at right, Michael Salton has a 2021 photo, Boris Gjenero contributed a 2014 photo, Herman Giethoorn has a good 2003 photo (taken before the lens was removed), Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The cape area is a Indian Reserve of the Chippewa Nation of Nawash. Located on the east side of the peninsula at the end of Lighthouse Road off county road 18 north of Wiarton (the last section of the road is unpaved). Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-094; CCG I-828.

Cape Croker Light, South Bruce Peninsula, July 2024 Instagram photo by Lighthouse Lover

Manitoulin District Lighthouses

Manitoulin Island lies at the northern end of Lake Huron and the northwestern end of Georgian Bay. Roughly 130 km (80 mi) long and up to 50 km (30 mi) wide, it is the largest island in the world located within a fresh water lake. The island is separated from the mainland by the North Channel. Ontario Highway 6 arrives on the island at South Baymouth by ferry from Tobermory and reaches the mainland by bridges connecting islands that nearly close off the eastern end of the North Channel. Manitoulin's permanent population is less than 13,000 but it is a popular summer resort area. The Manitoulin District includes seven townships and seven First Nations reserves but it has no district government.

Lonely Island Lighthouse

Lonely Island (2)

1907 (station established 1870). Active; focal plane 59.5 m (195 ft); white flash every 10 s. 16.5 m (54 ft) octagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens is displayed at the Huronia Museum in Midland. Google has a satellite view. All but one of the other light station buildings have been demolished and the lighthouse is now accessed by helicopter. The original lighthouse was destroyed by fire in 1906. Lonely Island is an isolated high island about 30 km (19 mi) east of Manitoulin Island in the northwestern part of Georgian Bay. Located on the north side of the island. Accessible only by helicopter; the island has no landing facilities for boats and is famously infested by rattlesnakes. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-282; CCG I-971.

Tehkummah Township (Southeast Manitoulin) Lighthouses

* South Baymouth Range Front 1898. Active; focal plane 8.5 m (28 ft); continuous green light. 5 m (17 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim and a red vertical stripe on the range line. User-activated fog horn (2.5 s blast every 30 s). Martin Jirgenson's 2022 photo is at right, Brandon Maracle also has a 2022 photo, a 2008 photo is available, Bash has a 2004 photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the rocky beach in South Baymouth just west of the terminal for the ferry carrying ON 6 from Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. . ARLHS CAN-591; CCG I-807. * South Baymouth Range Rear 1898. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); continuous green light. 8 m (27 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim and a red vertical stripe on the range line. Bash has a good photo and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on private property across the harbor from the front range light and just west of the ferry terminal. Site and tower closed, but the lighthouse is easy to see from Water Street. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-592; CCG I-808. Central Manitoulin Township Lighthouses Michael's Point (Michael's Bay) (replica) 2005 replica of 1870 lighthouse. Inactive (a decorative light shines only toward the land). 6 m (20 ft) octagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim. Dave Hornett has a closeup photo and Bing has a distant satellite view. Lighthouse Digest has Wayne Sapulski's account of the rebuilding of the lighthouse. The original lighthouse was discontinued in 1909 and collapsed in 1947. The replica was built by two local residents, Ron Anstice and Ron Hierons. No plans or images of the original exist but the replica was based on remains found at the site. Michael's Bay is about 5 km (8 mi) west of South Baymouth; Michael's Point is a long promontory framing the bay's southeast side. Located at the tip of the point. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed (private property). Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-315. * Providence Bay (2) 1973 (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 14.5 m (47 ft); continuous white light. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Three sides of the tower carry a large-slatted daymark painted with red and white horizontal bands. Derrick Becking has a 2021 closeup photo and another closeup photo is available but the framework tower is hard to see in Google's distant satellite view. The original lighthouse, a 13 m (43 ft) octagonal wood tower, was destroyed by fire in 1973. Located on Providence Point, the eastern entrance to Providence Bay on the south coast of Manitoulin Island. Accessible by road (some local knowledge may be needed). Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-416; CCG I-810.

South Baymouth Range Front Light, April 2022 Google Maps photo by Martin Jirgenson

Western Manitoulin Lighthouses

Great Duck Island (2)

1918 (station established 1877). Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); three white flashes (separated by 2.5 s) every 15 s. 26 m (85 ft) octagonal concrete tower, painted white; lantern and gallery painted red. Google has a satellite view. Great Duck Island is an uninhabited 1300 ha (5 sq. mi.) island in Lake Huron about 25 km (15 mi) off the southwestern coast of Manitoulin Island. Except for the light station it is privately owned. Located on the southwest coast of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-1032; CCG I-812; USCG 7-12685.

Mississagi Strait 1873. Reactivated (inactive 1970-2003); focal plane 14 m (47 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 11.5 m (38 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, attached to 1-1/2 story wood keeper's quarters. 1-story wood fog signal building (1881). Buildings painted white with red trim; lantern and gallery are red. The keeper's quarters houses a lighthouse museum, and the fog signal building housed a restaurant (now closed) for several years. A rare diaphone fog horn (1908) protrudes from the upper portion of the fog signal building. A 2020 photo is at right, C.M. Hanchey has a 2012 photo, Greg Brydun has good photo, Ken Johnston also has a good photo, Boleslaw Dworzak has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The light was moved to a skeletal tower in 1970 and returned to the lighthouse in May 2003; the skeletal tower has been demolished. In 1983 the Meldrum Bay Society and the Manitoulin Tourism Association saved this historic and very attractive lighthouse from destruction by securing a lease from the Canadian Coast Guard. In 2014, however, the lighthouse was reported in poor condition and the tourism group was seeking partners to manage and restore it. The campground reopened in 2015 with new resident managers. In 2016 the lighthouse was closed but Collaborative Structures Ltd. carried out a restoration starting in September. In December the Manitoulin Tourism Association signed a new 10-year lease of the lighthouse. The newly-hired manager worked on repairs and reopened the campground. However, the lighthouse closed during the Covid pandemic and did not reopen in 2022 due to maintenance issues and lack of a manager for the property. Mississagi Strait separates Manitoulin Island from Cockburn Island and provides a passage between the North Channel and Lake Huron. Located at the western tip of Manitoulin Island and at the end of Mississagi Lighthouse Road, off ON 540. Site currently closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Manitoulin Tourism Association (Mississagi Lighthouse and Campground ). ARLHS CAN-322; CCG I-813.

Mississisagi Strait Light, May 2020 Instagram photo by Mississagi Lighthouse

Cape Robert (2)

1970s. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 4 s. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Three sides of the tower carry a large-slatted daymark painted white. Google has a distant satellite view. The original lighthouse was a handsome square wood tower attached to a keeper's house. When it was demolished the lantern was relocated to the top of a guardhouse at the Parry Sound Coast Guard Base (see the Central Ontario page). Foundation ruins of the lighthouse are visible. CCG I-lists the tower height as 9 m (30 ft), but the tower is clearly taller than that. Located at the tip of Cape Robert, a prominent cape on the northwestern coast of Manitoulin Island. Accessible by the Nimkee's Trail, a popular route for hikers. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-104; CCG I-1026.

Municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island Lighthouse

* Gore Bay (Janet Head) 1879. Active; focal plane 12.5 m (41 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; lantern is red. James Burt's 2022 photo is at right, C.M. Hanchey has a 2012 photo is at right, Bash has a good photo, Robert Cox has a closeup photo, Scott Petty has a 2021 street view, and Google has a satellite view of the station. The lighthouse is leased by the Coast Guard to the Municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island, which has subleased it to the Fletcher family as a summer residence. The family usually opens the tower to visitors on summer afternoons. However, in 2016 the Coast Guard declined to extend the lease due to concerns about safety-related repairs needed in the building. Collaborative Structures Ltd. carried out a restoration of the lighthouse beginning in September. The lighthouse reopened in 2019 and its 140th birthday was celebrated on October 15. In 2022 Fisheries and Oceans raised questions with the municipality concerning the lease and asked that the building be closed for the season due to safety concerns. The lighthouse remained closed in 2023. Located at the end of Water Street off ON 540 in Gore Bay on the north shore of Manitoulin Island. Site open, lighthouse closed at present. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Municipality of Gordon/Barrie Island (Janet Head Lighthouse). . ARLHS CAN-203; CCG I-1023. Billings Township Lighthouse * Kagawong (2) 1894 (station established 1880). Active; focal plane 13.5 m (44 ft); continuous red light. 9.5 m (31 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Bash has a photo, a 2021 photo is available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse overlooks Main Street and the harbor of Kagawong, on ON 540 on the north shore of Manitoulin Island. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-259; CCG I-1019. * Kagawong Marina Date unknown. Active (privately maintained and unofficial); focal plane about 5 m (18 ft); continuous (?) red light. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal pyramidal tower with a small lantern. A 2021 closeup photo is available, Patrick Villacorta has a view from the water, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on the breakwater of the Kagawong Municipal Marina. Site open, tower closed. Not listed by CCG.

Gore Bay (Janet Head) Light, September 2022 Instagram photo by James Burt

Clapperton Island (3?)

1970s? Active; focal plane 15 m (50 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Three sides of the tower carry a large-slatted daymark painted white. No photo available but Google has an indistinct satellite view. The original lighthouse was a square wood tower; it was replaced by a skeletal tower in the late 1940s. Clapperton Island is off the north side of Manitoulin Island west of Little Current. Located on the north point of the island. Site status unknown. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-140; CCG I-1015.

Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands Lighthouse

Narrow Island (3) 1979. Active; focal plane 15 m (50 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Three sides of the tower carry a large-slatted daymark painted white. No photo available but Google has an indistinct satellite view. The original lighthouse, a square wood tower attached to a keeper''s house, burned in 1902. The second (1903) lighthouse, with a lantern atop a 2-story keeper's house, was demolished in 1979. The light marks the western approach to the Little Current Strait, where ON 6 crosses from the mainland to Manitoulin Island. Located in the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands on the northwest point of the island. Site status unknown. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-335; CCG I-1009. * Little Current South (replica) 2012 replica of 1867 lighthouse. A decorative white light is displayed. 8 m (26 ft) square 1-story wood building with a "bird-cage" style lantern centered on the roof. Building painted white, lantern red. Pernilla Nieves has a closeup photo, Aman Halani has a 2021 photo, another photo is available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The original was decommissioned in 1907. Six beacons of this type were built in 1866, including two at Killarney and two at Little Current. All of them vanished years ago. Built by local craftsmen, the replica is located on Water Street East at the east end of the Little Current waterfront about 600 m (0.37 mi) west of the ON 6 bridge. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands. ARLHS CAN-1072. Strawberry Island 1881. Active; focal plane 14.5 m (48 ft); white flash every 4 s. 12 m (40 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Drew Woodroof's 2022 photo is at right, Matt Young has a fine 2007 photo, Sam MacCutchan has a 2006 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse guards the eastern approach to the Little Current Strait, where ON 6 crosses from the mainland to Manitoulin Island. The keeper's house is leased as a private summer cottage. Located at the northern tip of the island about 8 km (5 mi) east of Little Current. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-483; CCG I-996.

Strawberry Island Light, Little Current, July 2022 Google Maps photo by Drew Woodroof

Assiginack Township Lighthouse

* Manitowaning 1885. Active; focal plane 24.5 m (81 ft); continuous green light. 10 m (34 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, covered with cedar shingles painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Tamara Gabell has the 2023 photo at right, Murray Dewing has a good photo, Bash has a 2004 photo, the township has a page for the lighthouse, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The Coast Guard renovated the lighthouse in 1995, adding the shingles., and in 2017 it repainted and refurbished the lighthouse in connection with Canada's 150th anniversary. Built above the harbor entrance, the lighthouse commands a view of Manitowaning Bay. Located beside Arthur Street off ON 6 in Manitowaning, on the north side of Manitoulin Island. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Township of Assiginack. . ARLHS CAN-302; CCG I-991. Information available on lost lighthouses: Goderich Range Rear (1880-1908), Goderich. This lighthouse was replaced by the Goderich North Pier Range Lights (see above). ARLHS CAN-1012. Little Current North (Spider Island) (1866-1950s), Little Current. Nothing remains of the original lighthouse or its replacement, which was called the Spider Island Light. Spider Island is now attached to the mainland of Manitoulin Island on the west side of Little Current. ARLHS CAN-278. Pine Tree Range Front and Rear (1895-1909), west side of the Bruce Peninsula. The range is marked today by lights on masts. ARLHS CAN-793 and 794. Southampton Harbour Range Front (1877-about 1945), Southampton. Nothing remains of this lighthouse. ARLHS CAN-831 and 643. Notable faux lighthouses: Grand Bend Yacht Club at Grand Bend in Lambton Shores has a fine lighthouse but it is not listed as an aid to navigation. Google has a street view and a satellite view.

Manitowaning Light, Manitowaning, May 2023 Google Maps photo by Tamara Gabell

Adjoining pages: North: Western Ontario | East: Central Ontario | South: Southwest Ontario | West: Eastern Lower Michigan

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Posted December 16, 2003. Checked and revised September 16, 2024. Lighthouses: 36. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.