The 10 Best Prince Edward Island Lighthouses You Won’t Want To Miss

To me, Prince Edward Island is Anne of Green Gables, red sand beaches, and of course lighthouses. Prince Edward Island lighthouses are scattered across the island, and no two are the same. With a grand total of 63 PEI lighthouses, this isn’t the province with the most lighthouses by far… but they do have the highest concentration of lighthouses in North America (one every 34 square miles!).  

So that you don’t have to visit all 63 PEI lighthouses, my top 10 sends you all across the Island. They give you a good taste of Island history, landscapes, and different lighthouse styles.  

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Before Visiting PEI Lighthouses…

Why Do You Need Lighthouses?

Lighthouses aren’t just for show, and definitely weren’t built to be the perfect photography subjects (although I’ll admit they do make every photo better!).

Lighthouses served, and still serve today, a very important role on PEI.

Prince Edward Island is, well… an island. In the past, the only way on and off PEI was by boat. Then, as the shipping and fishing industries grew, lighthouses became even more important.

It informs navigators where land meets the sea, and to ultimately avoid crashing into it.

The Lighthouses Of PEI

With a total of 63 lighthouses on Prince Edward Island, some are now decommissioned. But others are still very much working lighthouses, guiding ships safely to shore. 

Running a lighthouse used to require manual labour. A lighthouse keeper was needed to tend the light at all times which is why some of the lighthouses on PEI have an attached house. This was the living quarter for the lighthouse keeper. But today, all the working lighthouses on Prince Edward Island are fully automated.

Head Up! Getting To The Lighthouses Can Be Tricky…

There are a few things I’d wish I’d known before chasing lighthouses on Prince Edward Island Canada.

You can drive right up to most lighthouses without a problem, while others are a bit off the beaten path… literally. The roads aren’t always in the best condition, and sometimes they’re actually on private property.

If you don’t have ground clearance, you may want to avoid these lighthouses (like Cape Tryon – it was by far the worst). It’s a one-way road that’s uneven and has some serious ditches. Plus, there are some that are pretty terrifying and feel like you’re driving right off the edge of the Island!

Some PEI lighthouses are private property. We drove up to some that were quite literally in someone’s backyard (like Brighton Beach, if you want to see it up close). You’ll have to accept that some can only be seen from a distance! (P.S. Investing in a zoom lens is a good idea for a trip to PEI!)

Top 10 Lighthouses of PEI Canada

My top 10 lighthouses of PEI are pretty spread out across the Island so if you visit all of them, you’ll get a great, built-in tour of the Island.  I chose these 10 lighthouses either because of their significance to the Island, or because I love where they are.  

No two lighthouses are the same so you’ll be able to explore the different types of Prince Edward Island lighthouses and landscapes through these historical Island landmarks. 

PEI Lighthouses Map

If you’re doing the coastal drives on PEI these stops are easy to add to your route.

Point Prim: The Oldest Lighthouse on Prince Edward Island

I had originally bumped this Prince Edward Island lighthouse off my list because it seemed a bit out of the way. It looks close to Charlottetown, but it’s still a good 45 minute drive from the city and there isn’t much else in the area.  

But – if you’re going to visit any of the lighthouses on the island – it has to be Point Prim. Point Prim is the oldest lighthouse of PEI. Built in 1845, it’s also one of only two lighthouses built of brick in all of Canada… although unfortunately you can’t see the brick anymore (from the outside anyway). They used island bricks, which isn’t a very strong material, and over the years it decayed so much that eventually they had to be covered with clapboard and shingles (which is what we see today).

Aside from it’s history, Point Prim lighthouse is also in a spectacular location. On one side you can see PEI, the other you can see Nova Scotia in the distance.

Not to mention, it’s beautiful at sunset! If you’re travelling during high season, there is a restaurant on the water where you can relax and enjoy the sunset.

Plus! Point Prim lighthouse is actually open to go inside during high season as well!

En route is also Hannah’s Bottle Village that you can stop at along the way before or after seeing Point Prim. 

Most Iconic: Covehead Lighthouse

Covehead lighthouse is one of the most iconic PEI lighthouses – it’s also one of the easiest ones to get to.  Covehead lighthouse is in the PEI National Park, across from Covehead harbour.

It overlooks the beach, surrounded by sand dunes; a very typical Prince Edward Island landscape. Since its construction in 1975, it has been a fully automated lighthouse.

All About The Experience: Cape Tryon Lighthouse PEI

Cape Tryon lighthouse is all about your experience in actually getting there. This is an example of a PEI lighthouse that is harder to reach. I don’t recommend going to this one if you’re driving a sedan – you’ll need a good amount of ground clearance.
 
You turn off the main road onto a red dirt road that honestly looks like you’re about to drive off the island into the ocean. 
 
It’s a good 5 minute drive on this uneven red dirt road. But it’s incredible when the lighthouse begins appearing above the cliff. You feel like you’re at the end of the world – it’s amazing!
 
This is actually the second Cape Tryon Lighthouse. The first lighthouse at this location was built in 1905 but decommissioned and moved in 1965. It’s now a private residence.
 
The current Cape Tryon Lighthouse was built in 1967.

Most Convenient: Brighton Beach Lighthouse in PEI

This one is the most convenient lighthouse to see in PEI if you’re staying in Charlottetown. Brighton Beach Lighthouse was built in 1890. It’s best seen at sunset as you walk along the boardwalk in Victoria Park.

This is actually a prime example of a lighthouse that is on private property. Oddly enough, walking right up to the lighthouse means you’re now standing in someone’s backyard… 

From the boardwalk, try to spot two other lighthouses across the water: Blockhouse Lighthouse and Warren Cove lighthouse.

Find A Place To Stay in Charlottetown, PEI

Booking.com

Open All Year Round: Souris Lighthouse

There are a few PEI lighthouses that allow you to go inside, including Point Prim, Panmure Island, Cape Bear, Wood Islands, Victoria Seaport, West Point, and East Point. BUT! They’re typically only open in the summer months. Souris Lighthouse is the exception, and is open all year round! 

Inside, you’ll find a small museum displaying shipping artifacts and a small exhibit on sea glass (which was actually really interesting). They ask you to leave a $5 donation to keep up the lighthouse so make sure to have change on hand before you visit! 

The best part (and the most terrifying) is that you can actually turn the lighthouse on and go all the way up to the top. I warn you though, it’s LOUD when you turn it on and the stairs are quite steep.

The Souris East Range Lighthouse was the last lighthouse with a keeper on the Island. It was manned until 1991 when it became officially automated. 

See A Floating Lighthouse In The Distance

A floating lighthouse is so unique that you should see at least one while you’re visiting Prince Edward Island Canada. These lonely lighthouses can only be accessed by boat.

Indian Head Lighthouse: Summerside

The Indian Head lighthouse looks like it might be floating – and it kind of is. It’s floating on a concrete slab in the middle of the ocean.

It might stand out because of its unique octagonal shape, but when it was built in 1881 this was a common design for lighthouses.

You can see the Indian Head lighthouse in PEI from the Summerside boardwalk.

Cascumpec Lighthouse Prince Edward Island

The other option to see a floating lighthouse is Cascumpec lighthouse near Alberton. This Prince Edward Island lighthouse is along the North Cape coastal drive.

We met a local while trying to photograph the lighthouse who told us that it’s now privately owned and used as a beach house. Imagine having a lighthouse as your summer beach house!? Yes please!

The lighthouse was built in 1876 and moved to this location in 1901. To accomplish this, it was apparently pulled by horses over the frozen waters. They meant to take it further, but it got stuck on a snowbank.

Cape Egmont Lighthouse PEI

I love Cape Edgemont Lighthouse on PEI for a few reasons. First, it’s painted to represent the Acadian flag which I really respect (red, white, and blue with a yellow star).

Next, it’s in an unbeatable location. It reminds me of Cape Tryon Lighthouse, but a lot easier to get to (and less stressful). The lighthouse overlooks the coast with red cliffs, and if you’re brave enough to look below you, there’s a unique floating rock with a peek-a-boo hole (very similar to Mackenzie’s Brook). 

It was constructed in 1884 but later had to be moved further inland to protect it from the harsh weather. Cape Edgemont is the only lighthouse along the 74 km south west shore between West Point and Sea Cow Head.

But, I think my favourite fact about the Cape Edgemont lighthouse is that it’s one of the only lighthouse where someone was born. One of the longest running lighthouse keepers on the Island had five of his nine children come into this world while living there. And some were actually born in the lighthouse itself!

Going To The Edge of Prince Edward Island

If you’re driving along the PEI coastal drive, you’ll want to go to the northern and easternmost points of the Island. 
 
These two Prince Edward Island Lighthouses are by no means the prettiest, but their placement is quite significant for the Island. 
 
Plus it’s cool to say that you’ve been to both ends of the Island!

North Cape Lighthouse

Although North Cape isn’t one of the prettiest lighthouses, it just might be the most important on the Island. North Cape has the longest rock reefs in North America, which pose a big threat to passing ships.

The lighthouse was moved several times because of rock erosion and now it’s next to a telecommunications tower and a part of a wind energy plant.  

If you’re visiting during high season, there’s actually quite a bit to do at North Cape. There’s a wind energy interpretive centre (a museum) and a restaurant perfectly situated to enjoy the views. There’s also a short nature trail that takes you along the coast.

I also like this PEI lighthouse because the surrounding landscape is very different from any other lighthouse on Prince Edward Island, with vibrant red rocks that you’re free to explore and climb.

East Point Lighthouse

East Point is on, well, the Eastern tip of the Island, and was constructed one year after North Cape, in 1867.

If that year rings a bell for you, that may be because it’s actually the same year that Canada became a country. Which is kind of funny, because PEI only joined Canada 6 years later, in 1873!

You can tour East Point during the summer months (buy tickets online).

Most Popular: West Point Lighthouse PEI

Although this isn’t my personal favourite, everyone thinks this is the prettiest of the PEI lighthouses. So I’m adding it to the list of must-see lighthouses on Prince Edward Island so you can decide for yourself. 

West Point is the first of the second generation lighthouses on the Island. First generation lighthouses were either round or octagonal (for example, Point Prim, North Cape, and East Point).

West Point, built in 1875, has a square tower and is still the tallest lighthouse on the Island. I will admit, West Point lighthouse is a breath of fresh air from the classic red and white design. But, funnily enough, the black stripes were originally red! It was repainted in 1915 because black was thought to fade less. 

It’s now a hotel with 13 rooms and houses a museum about lighthouses.

My All Around Favourite: St. Peter’s Harbour Lighthouse

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Prince Edward Island lighthouse. This is a lesser known PEI lighthouse built in 1881. The design isn’t anything special, and in fact it looks like most of the other lighthouses on the Island.  

But it feels so secluded. You follow a red dirt road off the highway to this giant opening of lake and marsh land with sand dunes in the background. I just love how the lighthouse reflects on the water and how it feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere.

My Amazon Travel Favourites

Read More Guides!

• Understanding The Prince Edward Island National Park – The Complete Guide
• Why Book The Great George Hotel In Charlottetown PEI
• Where To Stay In PEI? A Guide To Hotels in Cavendish, Summerside & Charlottetown
• Top 11 Travel Essentials You Need
• How To Get To Teacup Rock PEI & Mackenzie’s Brook Safely

Click Image To Pin To Share Or Save This Post

Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API