Get the MarineRadar appSatellite AISSatellite live trackingTrack any shipLive alerts112,000+ ships trackedDownload free

Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse

Fl White 4s🇺🇸Town of Esopus, USOperational

Location & Light Range

About Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse

The Esopus Meadows Lighthouse is located west of the main channel in the Middle Hudson River, near the Town of Esopus, New York. Built in 1872, the lighthouse has a 17-meter octagonal wood tower mounted on the roof of a 2-story mansard-style wood keeper's house. This structure has provided navigational reference for mariners. The building experienced significant lean due to ice and erosion, leading to its placement on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. Stabilization and leveling work occurred in 2001, and the light was reactivated in the tower in 2003 after being inactive since 1965. The light has a geographic range of 12.7 nautical miles, flashing white every 4 seconds (Fl W 4s).

Why it matters: This lighthouse marks the Esopus Meadows area on the Middle Hudson River, serving as a navigation aid for river traffic. Its octagonal wood tower and mansard-style keeper's house represent a distinct form of river lighthouse construction.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 4s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
4s
Raw Code
Fl W 4s
Focal Height
18m
Geographic Range
12.7NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1872

Significant events: Reactivated (inactive 1965-2003), added to the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List, shored up and leveled (2001), light returned to tower (2003), removed from Doomsday List

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Poughkeepsie(9.6 km)
Admiralty No.
J1139.7
USCG No.
1-38155
ARLHS No.
USA-276

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
17m
Tower Shape
octagonal
Material
wood

Structure: A 17m octagonal wood tower with lantern, mounted on the roof of a 2-story mansard-style wood keeper's house.

Location

City
Town of Esopus
Country
🇺🇸United States
Region
New York
Sea Region
Middle Hudson River, on a tiny island west of the river channel north of Esopus
Latitude
41.8684°
Longitude
-73.9416°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
Live tracking · 50,000+ mariners

Find Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse on the live nautical map

Plan voyages near United States, see nearby vessels in real time, and explore 14,900+ navigation aids in the app.

Nautical mapNearby vesselsVoyage planning
Get the App

Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse at night?+
Ulster County Lighthouses displays the characteristic Fl White 4s. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Port Ewen at 2.6 NM to the NNW. Other ports served include Rhinebeck (3.4 NM NNE), Tillson (6.4 NM WSW), POUGHKEEPSIE (9.8 NM S), SAUGERTIES (12.1 NM N). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Ulster County Lighthouses 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.
What shipping routes pass near Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse is located within the US East Coast shipping lane — a major shipping corridor serving ports along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Ulster County Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Ulster County Lighthouses 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.