Point Clark Lighthouse

The Point Clark Lighthouse is a National Historic Site and was one of the first ‘imperial towers’ to flash its light. Six of these majestic towers were built by John Brown on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay in the 1850s. Built of limestone from nearby Inverhuron, the Point Clark Lighthouse stands 26.5 metres (80 feet) high, featuring 114 steps to get to the top. The stone tower is topped by a 12-sided lantern framed in cast iron, with a domed roof. A bronze lion head at each angle of the eaves directs rainwater away from the tower. The light stands 87 feet from the base of the tower.

The Lighthouse was acquired by Parks Canada in 1967 to commemorate the vital role of lighthouses in navigation on the Great Lakes. The lightkeeper’s dwelling, built at the same time as the Lighthouse, is now operated as a museum by the Township of Huron-Kinloss. In 2009, The Point Clark Lighthouse was honoured to be one of six lighthouses chosen from across Canada to decorate a postage stamp.

In 2010 the lighthouse was closed for restoration due to excessive spalling (pieces of stones falling off the Tower). Parks Canada engineers completed an assessment and indicated that the tower whitewash should be removed, stones replaced, and mortar re-pointed. When work began in 2011, the damage to the stones was far worse than originally anticipated. In 2012, Parks Canada completed an in-depth analysis and assessed each stone and mortar joint and mapped each one as well. The result of the assessment was that over four hundred stones were replaced (over 1400 stones in the tower). The project was completed in June of 2015. See our video about the restoration and photo gallery below!

Restoration Video

Photo Gallery

The Point Clark Lighthouse is open seasonally from June 28th to Labour Day. For current information about our lighthouse guided tours please visit www.secretsoftheback40.com.

In the meantime, please enjoy a virtual tour of the Point Clark Lighthouse! Available in English and French.

We would love to host you on a tour at the Point Clark Lighthouse this summer, but please keep in mind a few things before you plan your trip.

1. The Lighthouse tower and adjacent museum are open for paid daily tours from June 28 to September 2. The first tour is at 10:30 am and last tour at 4:30 pm, with tours every half an hour.

2. Cost for a guided tour is $7.50 for adults and $5 for children aged 4-12.  Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased in advance online: https://secretsofthebackforty.com/point-clark-lighthouse/

3. You must wear closed toed shoes or sandals with a back strap. No flip flops or slides. 

4. Children under the age of 4 are not allowed up the Lighthouse tower, but are welcome in the museum, free of charge. 

5. An average level of fitness is required to climb the tower, as it is 114 steps and is gets quite steep at the top. It is not recommended for those who are pregnant or with heart or lung conditions, have a fear of heights or confined spaces.

6. A waiver is available on-site and must be signed before starting the tour. 

7. Tours do not run during a thunderstorm and will be cancelled, with a full refund, if lightning is present. Tours will re-commence one hour after the last visible lightning strike or at the discretion of the Lighthouse Coordinator. 

8. Safety is our number one priority. Please adhere to these rules and follow the instructions of our trained tour guides, for a fun and enjoyable, once in a lifetime experience!