Lake Ontario Lighthouses in New York

I’d been wanting to see the lighthouses along Lake Ontario for quite some time, and this year was finally the year I made it happen. In May, I took a road trip to Toronto and then Ohio to see some P aul McCartney related exhibits. I saw a lot of the Lake Ontario lighthouses during that trip. I recently saw most of the lighthouses on the eastern side of the lake. I haven’t seen them all yet, but I only have a few more to go! Below are the ones that I’ve personally seen and photographed so far.

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse marks the entrance of the St. Lawrence River from Lake Ontario. This lighthouse is the only one that has a classical Fresnel lens still in operation on Lake Ontario. The current tower was built in 1854. Today, the grounds feature a visitor center, but you cannot go to the top of the lighthouse since it’s still an active aid to navigation.

White lighthouse tower with black lantern rises beside a white brick building under a blue sky with clouds. — Tibbetts Point Lighthouse. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Want to Save This Post?

Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get more great travel guides.

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Daily Life Travels

Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse

This lighthouse in Oswego is located at the end of a breakwater. The lighthouse was built in 1934 to replace an earlier lighthouse that was built in 1880. If you’re looking to tour the lighthouse, you can book a tour with the H. Lee White Maritime Museum at Oswego. The museum will take you out to the lighthouse via boat.

White lighthouse with a red roof sits on a concrete platform surrounded by water, under an overcast sky. — Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Sodus Bay Lighthouse

The current Sodus Bay Lighthouse was built in 1871. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1901. Today, the lighthouse serves as a museum with beautiful grounds featuring gardens and views of Lake Ontario. The museum is open seasonally May through December.

A stone lighthouse with a red roof seen partially behind leafy green trees, under a cloudy sky. — Sodus Point Lighthouse. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Sodus Outer Lighthouse

This lighthouse, built in 1938, is located at the end of the western pier that defines the channel from Lake Ontario and Sodus Bay. Sodus Bay is the largest bay on Lake Ontario. When Sodus Lighthouse was deactivated, this lighthouse became the primary lighthouse.

A white lighthouse with a red roof stands on a pier by calm water, with distant land visible in the background and tree branches framing the view. — Sodus Outer Light. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse

This spot in Rochester, New York offers tours of the lighthouse tower and lightkeeper’s house seasonally. The lighthouse was built in 1822, and it stands at 40 feet tall on the bank of the Genesse River. The light was turned off in 1881 because by then, it was very far from the shore of Lake Ontario. Today, a modern light beacon sits at the end of Charlotte Pier, although it’s not as charming as this lighthouse.

A tall, weathered stone lighthouse stands beside a brick building, surrounded by green grass and trees under a clear blue sky. — Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

People walk and fish on a pier with puddles, leading to a red and white striped lighthouse covered in graffiti, under a clear blue sky. — Modern light beacon at the end of Charlotte Pier. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Braddock Point Lighthouse

Braddock Point Lighthouse in Hilton, New York was built in 1896. The lighthouse is now privately owned, but you can stay in it. Staying there is a bit expensive with limited dates, so you can also drive by the lighthouse and respectfully view it from the road.

Booking site: Braddock Point Lighthouse on Airbnb

Red brick lighthouse with attached house behind a black iron fence and a sign reading "Braddock Point Lighthouse" on a sunny day with clear blue sky. — Braddock Point Lighthouse. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Oak Orchard Lighthouse

At the end of 1916, the original lighthouse was swept away in a violent winter storm. In 2010, a replica was built. Today, you can visit the replica, which houses local maritime historical artifacts and a gift shop. Visitors are able to climb the lightkeeper’s ladder to the third floor to get close to the light and enjoy views of Lake Ontario.

A white lighthouse with a brown base stands by the water, surrounded by greenery. An American flag and “OPEN” signs are visible near the entrance. — Oak Orchard Lighthouse. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse

Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse is located within Golden Hill State Park in Barker, New York. The lighthouse was built in 1875 out of hand-carved stone. This lighthouse is available to tour, including the tower, mid-May through mid-October. This is also one of many lighthouses you can stay the night at in the Northeastern United States.

Booking website: Golden Hill State Park, New York – Lighthouse Cottage

Stone lighthouse with black lantern and red roof accents, surrounded by green trees and lawn, under a clear blue sky. — Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Olcott Lighthouse

This lighthouse is a replica, but it’s still worth a visit if you’re in the area. It was built in 2003, but the lighthouse it is a replica of was built in 1873. The original lighthouse stood at the harbor entrance and the replica is next to the Lakeview Village Shoppes. You can find tourist information inside the lighthouse.

A white wooden lighthouse with a black lantern room stands by the ocean, viewed through an open white picket fence gate under a clear blue sky.

Fort Niagara Lighthouse

This lighthouse was built in 1872. It’s located at Old Fort Niagara in Lewiston, New York. The lighthouse was originally a 50-foot octagonal stone tower, but 11 feet was added to the tower in 1900.