Five Ontario lighthouses to see this summer!

The shores of Ontario’s lakes and rivers are peppered with 146 classic lighthouses. In fact Ontario has more lighthouses than any Canadian province other than Nova Scotia. These lighthouses range from towering stone affairs built in the earliest days of Canadian Parliament to humble wooden structures marking the harbours of hamlets that grew into villages and then towns. Before the advent of the car, Ontario was a mostly waterfaring province and these lighthouses helped travelers to avoid dangerous rocks and navigate to Ontario's multitudinous harbours and ports. Try to make it to all five of these lighthouses this summer to see more of Ontario and to learn more about our maritime history. 

Goderich Lighthouse

Perched atop a commanding bluff overlooking Lake Huron you will find the Goderich Lighthouse. This square tower was built in 1847 to mark the town’s harbor and though it stands only 10 meters tall, its light is 46 meters above the surface of the water making it one of the loftiest in Ontario. The grounds surrounding the lighthouse have multiple picnic tables and is a great place to have lunch while admiring the view. 

Goderich claims to be Canada’s prettiest town and they have some grounds on which to make that argument. A distinctive octagonal town square features a courthouse in the middle flanked by multiple shops and eateries around its radius. Of particular interest is Part 2 Bistro serving refined Canadian classics in the town square. Goderich also has an excellent beach for swimming although it can become very busy on summer weekends. 

Port Burwell Lighthouse

This red-striped tower is the oldest wooden lighthouse on the Canadian Great Lakes. It would have rotted into disrepair like most wooden lighthouses if not for the commendable efforts of the local Mennonite community in 1986 who restored the lighthouse with hand tools and techniques similar to those used in its original construction. Originally, the tower was painted white with a red lantern room but the distinctive vertical red stripes were added during its 1986 restoration.

Port Burwell has other attractions that make it a worthwhile destination. The sandy beach is great for swimming although check water conditions before you leave. The Port Burwell Marine Museum is also worth checking out. But the town’s most famous attraction is the massive cold war submarine, the HMCS Ojibwa which can be seen looming behind the town’s main street. Tours are offered but slots do fill up so make sure to make reservations before you go!

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse

If you want to go see a lighthouse this summer, you don’t have to leave the GTA! Gibraltar Point Lighthouse was built on the Toronto Islands in 1808 and today it is the oldest surviving lighthouse on the Great Lakes. It’s also one of Canada’s most famous haunted lighthouses due to the mysterious murder of its first keeper in 1813. A human jaw bone was found near the lighthouse in 1893 to substantiate the story and some say the keeper’s restless spirit can still be encountered in the night.

The best way to access the lighthouse is to take a ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in Toronto to Hanlan’s Point on the Toronto Islands. If you visit on a summer weekend you’ll also have a chance to ride on the paddlewheeler Trillium from 1910. It’s the oldest operational side-paddlewheeler on the Great Lakes and occasionally pressed into service in good weather.

Victoria Harbour Range Rear Lighthouse

Unless you knew where to look, chances are you would never find this secluded little lighthouse. This was a “range light” which means it worked in conjunction with a second lighthouse at lower elevation. The rough idea is that mariners would aim their ships so that the two range lights aligned themselves in a vertical line, one atop the other thus meaning they had the correct heading to safely enter the harbour. This lighthouse was first lit in 1910 and stayed in use all the way to the 1990s. In 2012 the lighthouse was treated to a beautiful restoration and today it remains in picture-perfect condition.

Access to the lighthouse is well-marked and you’ll find it at the end of a brief walking trail. Visitors will be rewarded with a commanding view of Port McNicholl and Victoria Harbour. If you squint you may even be able to see the SS Keewatin moored across the bay. It is one of the largest surviving Eduardian passenger liners in the world. 

Kincardine Lighthouse

Kincardine Lighthouse is actually the only downtown lighthouse on the Canadian side of Lake Huron. This style of lighthouse is also unique in Canada with its tower sprouting out from the top of the keeper’s dwelling. Kincardine Lighthouse was first lit in 1881 was converted to electricity from oil lighting in 1925 and eventually automated in 1977. Today it’s leased to the Kincardine Yacht Club who uses it as a clubhouse and a small museum which is open to the public.

Bars and restaurants line nearby Harbour St and some even have patios where you can sip a beer and take in the views of the lighthouse and Lake Huron. A local craft brewery, Grey Matter Beer Company is walking-distance from the lighthouse and serves a delightful mix of craft beers, some of which are lighthouse themed!