Six Atlantic Canada Lighthouses Worth the Detour This Autumn, With 2026 Season Dates

The best-known Atlantic Canada lighthouses are open to visitors from late spring into early autumn, but several grounds stay open all year. This list covers six lighthouses across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, with the 2026 season dates we could confirm from tourism and Parks Canada pages. Check each site before you travel, because late October is already the end of the season for several of them.

1. Cape Forchu Lighthouse, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Quick facts: Tower about 123 feet above sea level; 77 steps to the lantern room; tours limited to six people; the light is open mid-May to early October.

The Nova Scotia tourism listing calls Cape Forchu the tallest climbable lighthouse in the province, and the climb is the draw. Visitors climb 77 steps into the lantern room, with no more than six participants per tour. The light itself runs mid-May through early October, while the Leif Erikson trails and lighthouse grounds are open year-round, 24 hours a day. The museum and gift shop operate May through October. The provincial listing has the full operating notes, and the local Yarmouth and Acadian Shores page describes it as the second-most photographed lighthouse in Nova Scotia, a claim from a promotional source.

2. Cape Spear Lighthouse, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Quick facts: Oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador; 2026 season June 1 to October 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; grounds open year-round.

Parks Canada describes Cape Spear as the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province, on Black Head Road just outside St. John's. The 2026 season ran from June 1 to October 9, with daily hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so the historic site is closed for the year. The grounds stay open year-round, which makes the headland a practical stop on a late-autumn drive. The art gallery has its own season and an entry fee, so call the site at 709-772-2191 before you go. Parks Canada's hours page confirms the 2026 dates.

3. Point Prim Lighthouse, near Belfast, Prince Edward Island

Quick facts: Built in 1845; PEI's oldest lighthouse; open May 15 to October 31; tower about 60 feet.

Tourism PEI calls Point Prim the oldest lighthouse on Prince Edward Island, and the Island Lighthouse Society says it was first lit on December 4, 1845. The tower stands about 60 feet and visitors can tour it during the season. Tourism PEI lists the site as open May 15 to October 31, which makes it one of the few lighthouses on this list still open for a visit in late October. The lighthouse sits on Route 209 on the island's east coast. Tourism PEI's listing covers the address and season, and the Island Lighthouse Society's history explains the building's early years, including a 1947 re-cladding that followed its construction by only two years.

4. Cape Enrage Light Station, Fundy Coast, New Brunswick

Quick facts: Built in 1838 atop cliffs about 150 feet high; still sounds a foghorn; operated by the Cape Enrage Interpretive and Adventure Centre.

Tourism New Brunswick says the Cape Enrage light was built in 1838 on cliffs about 150 feet above the Bay of Fundy, and it still sounds its foghorn and shows its beam. The station is now operated by the Cape Enrage Interpretive and Adventure Centre, so check the centre directly for seasonal hours, which the provincial listing did not give. The provincial listing is short, and the Wikipedia entry for the light gives a fuller history for readers who want more background.

5. Fort Point and Sambro Island, Nova Scotia's older lights

Quick facts: Fort Point light built in 1855, the fourth-oldest surviving lighthouse in Nova Scotia; Sambro Island is described as the oldest working lighthouse in North America.

Nova Scotia's lighthouse roundup describes Fort Point Lighthouse Park's light, built in 1855, as the fourth-oldest surviving lighthouse in the province. The same guide calls Sambro Island the oldest working lighthouse in North America. That is a claim worth checking against the Nova Scotia archives before you repeat it in print, and we could not confirm public access to the island, so treat it as a viewing stop rather than a visit. Nova Scotia's 13-lighthouse guide lists the other options along the coast.

When the season ends

Quick facts: Cape Spear's buildings closed October 9; Cape Forchu's light closes in early October; Point Prim runs to October 31.

Timing decides which towers you can climb. Cape Spear's 2026 season ended October 9, and Cape Forchu's light is listed as open only through early October, so late-autumn trips should focus on grounds and coastal walks. Point Prim is the exception on this list. Nova Scotia's South Shore lighthouse itinerary is a useful template for a route that still reaches some open towers, and it is a good place to start if you are working within one province.

Planning a lighthouse route with United Travels

Quick facts: Lighthouses are spread across provinces and seasons, so the order of stops matters more than the number of stops.

A lighthouse route can span two or more provinces, and seasonal closures change what is worth visiting. Rather than fitting six towers into one week, many travelers choose one province and build the trip around the sites that are still open. An agent can check season dates, ferry schedules and accommodation before you commit to a route. Our guide to Prince Edward Island in the shoulder season and our guide to Newfoundland and Labrador this fall are useful companions. Parks Canada's Cape Spear page is the place to confirm current site details before you travel. To plan the trip with United Travels, contact travel@unitedtravels.ca.

People also ask

Which Atlantic Canada lighthouse can you climb?

Cape Forchu in Yarmouth is the climbable one we verified, with 77 steps to the lantern room and tours limited to six people. Point Prim on Prince Edward Island also offers tower tours during its season, which runs to October 31.

Are Atlantic Canada lighthouses open in October?

Some are and some are not. Cape Spear's 2026 season ended October 9, while Point Prim runs to October 31. Grounds at several sites stay open year-round, so late-autumn visits are still possible if you plan for closed buildings.

Is Cape Spear worth visiting if the lighthouse is closed?

Yes, for the headland. Parks Canada lists the grounds as open year-round, and the site is a coastal walk with wide views. Plan around the art gallery's separate season and fee, and call ahead to confirm.

How old is Point Prim Lighthouse?

The Island Lighthouse Society says it was first lit on December 4, 1845, which makes it PEI's oldest lighthouse. The tower stands about 60 feet and tours run during the summer and early autumn season.

Should I use a travel agent for a lighthouse road trip?

An agent is useful when the trip crosses provinces, needs ferry bookings, or depends on seasonal opening dates. Ask for the season dates for each site in writing, and confirm which accommodation and transport are included in the quote.

Facts checked against current sources as of October 23, 2026; confirm before booking, traveling or deciding.