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Cabot Head Lighthouse

🇨🇦Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, CAOperational

Location & Light Range

About Cabot Head Lighthouse

The Cabot Head Lighthouse, built in 1896, is a 11-meter cylindrical wood tower with a lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Its exterior is white with red trim and a red roof. First lit in 1896, the light was deactivated in 1971. The Friends of Cabot Head restored the station in the 1980s, operating it as a museum until mercury contamination led to its closure in 2017. Cleanup continued through 2019, with further delays caused by the Covid crisis and a withdrawal of municipal support for road access. A 2021 grant aims to create a wilderness trail for hikers and bicyclists to the site.

Why it matters: The lighthouse's square cylindrical wood tower and integrated keeper's house represent a distinct architectural style for Canadian lighthouses. Its restoration and operation as a museum fostered a strong community connection.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
11m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
white with red trim and red roof
Material
wood

Structure: square cylindrical wood tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house

Location

City
Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula
Country
🇨🇦Canada
Region
Ontario
Sea Region
Located on the point of Cabot Head, on the east side of the peninsula about 20 km (13 mi) north of Dyer Bay on the shore road.
Latitude
45.2451°
Longitude
-81.2921°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Construction & History

Year Built
1896

Significant events: Inactive since 1971, restored in the 1980s by the Friends of Cabot Head and operated as a museum, mercury contamination discovered in 2017 leading to closure, cleanup continued through 2018, exterior abatement, repainting, fencing of old fog alarm building area, and soil remediation in 2019, expected to reopen for 2020 season but prevented by Covid crisis, Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula decided to no longer allow or support access over unmaintained private road, Friends group announced indefinite closure, Trillium Foundation awarded $124,000 grant in July 2021 to rebuild the road as a wilderness trail for hikers and bicyclists

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Wiarton(30.7 km)
ARLHS No.
CAN-067
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports and harbors does Cabot Head Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Cabot Head Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Wiarton at 30.7 NM to the SSE. Other ports served include Owen Sound (42.6 NM SSE), Britt (43.7 NM NE), Killarney (44.3 NM NNW), Key Harbour (44.9 NM NNE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Cabot Head Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Cabot Head Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
How can I track vessels near Cabot Head Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Cabot Head Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.