10 iconic Upstate NY lighthouses, including one where you can spend the night

4 days ago

7 min read

New York boasts more than 70 historic lighthouses. They dot coastlines from Montauk Point at the far end of Long Island to the Great Lakes.

Here is a list of 10 memorable lighthouses in Upstate New York that offer water’s edge history lessons. Look for the one that allows you to spend the night in the middle of the Hudson River.

1. Rondout Lighthouse (Kingston)

Built in 1915, this brick lighthouse owned by the city of Kingston stands on the west side of the Hudson River near the channel entrance to Kingston. You can take a tour inside the Hudson Valley lighthouse, which is still in operation. A solar-powered boat will take you from the Hudson River Maritime Museum along Rondout Creek out to the lighthouse, where guided tours are given.

How to visit: Tours are available from May through October. Tickets cost $25 for ages 8 to 12; $35 for ages 13-61; and $30 for ages 62 and up. To book a cruise and tour, visit the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s website.

2. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse (Youngstown)

This decommissioned lighthouse is a frequently visited site, as it is located at Old Fort Niagara, a popular historic destination 12 miles north of Niagara Falls. The light tower is a 50-foot-tall limestone structure. It is said that this is the first unofficial lighthouse located on Lake Ontario (1782). Trivia: The legend of Betsy Doyle began at Old Fort Niagara. Doyle, the wife of a soldier serving during the War of 1812, carried red-hot cannonballs to the defenders against a British artillery attack. Her daring feats certified her as an American heroine whose story is told at the fort through historical markers and plaques.

How to visit: Old Fort Niagara is open year-round, but hours vary by season. Admission is free for children 5 and under; $13 for children 6 to 12; and $21 for visitors 13 and up. To learn more or buy tickets, visit Old Fort Niagara’s website.

3. Tibbetts Point Lighthouse (Cape Vincent)

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse is one of the most visited historic attractions in the Seaway Region. The still-in-use tower, which rises 70 feet above the water, stands where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario and was built in 1827. The lighthouse in the Thousand Islands offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of the meeting of the waters. Canada appears to be a mere stone’s throw over the river. Much water traffic, from small pleasure crafts to enormous tankers, slowly passes by. There is a picnic area. And obviously, sunsets are spectacular here.

How to visit: The lighthouse grounds are open daily and free to visit. The visitor center, museum and gift shop are open seasonally. To learn more or plan your trip, visit Tibbetts Point Lighthouse’s website.

4. Dunkirk Lighthouse (Dunkirk)

Dunkirk Lighthouse, built in 1826 and first lit in 1875, is still in operation. You can attend public events at the lighthouse during the year, and the observation deck near the top of the lighthouse, perched on Point Gratiot, offers a great view of Lake Erie. Dunkirk is in scenic Chautauqua County in Western New York. There have been several notable shipwrecks near the lighthouse over the years. Also, the U.S. Coast Guard posted a company of a dozen armed members to guard the lighthouse and its grounds during World War II.

How to visit: Walking around the property is free. Tour hours vary by season. Tours of the lighthouse and grounds cost $5 for children ages 5 to 15; $10 for adults over 55, veterans and students; and $12 for visitors ages 16 to 54. To learn more, visit Dunkirk Lighthouse’s website.

5. Saugerties Lighthouse (Saugerties)

Built in 1869, the beacon for Saugerties Lighthouse in the Catskills was removed in 1972 and replaced in 1990 when the public rallied to support the historic lighthouse. The brick lighthouse is an amazing place, located where the Hudson River meets Esopus Creek in Saugerties. It offers overnight stays in a comfortable bed-and-breakfast setting. This experience, being in the middle of the Hudson River all night long, and then waking up as ships pass through the sunrise, is among the most unusual you can enjoy in Upstate New York. The operational tower is available for guests to climb for an unparalleled view of the Hudson River. A delicious breakfast is served, and an outdoor deck is a perfect place to relax for a leisurely afternoon, enjoying a glass of wine and a good book while waving to the ships that pass by. There is a small (and very interesting) lighthouse museum on-site, and public tours are very popular.

How to visit: Visitors can walk to the site year-round by taking a half-mile trail through Ruth Reynolds Glunt Nature Preserve. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset and is free to access. (Don’t forget to check the tide table.) Tours are offered on Sunday afternoons during the summer and cost $10 for adults and $5 for children. To learn more about visiting or booking a night at Saugerties Lighthouse, visit the lighthouse’s website.

6. Champlain Memorial Lighthouse (Crown Point)

Built in 1858, this lighthouse is located on one of the prettiest little slivers of the state. The unique Champlain Memorial Lighthouse is on the state-run Crown Point Campground and about 1 mile from the stunning Crown Point State Historical Site. The light overlooks the narrow southern section of Lake Champlain, and Vermont is just a bridge away. On July 5, 1912, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the discovery of the lake by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, a gala ceremony took place showcasing a newly designed exterior of the lighthouse and a ceremony attended by both French and American dignitaries. President William H. Taft gave the opening remarks. Trivia: The lighthouse displays a rare sculptural piece by Auguste Rodin on the lakeside of the tower. At the time of the dedication, Rodin was called France’s most famous living artist.

How to visit: Crown Point State Historical Sites, which houses Champlain Memorial Lighthouse, is open from sunrise to sunset year-round. Entry is free. To learn more, visit the site’s website.

7. Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse (Charlotte)

Located at Lake Ontario just north of the city of Rochester, this lighthouse has seen much history over its two centuries of existence. It is the second-oldest standing American lighthouse on the Great Lakes (the one in Marblehead, Ohio, is older). The tower, lightkeeper’s house and gardens are fully accessible to the public. The top of the 40-foot tower offers a view that stretches all the way to Canada on a clear day. There are at least four encounters with the British during the War of 1812 that are discussed in the museum on the grounds. Trivia: The tower was first lit by ten cumbersome Argand lamps which burned whale oil. Also, the tower was first painted white so ships on the water could identify it against the dark green backdrop of the nearby green forest.

How to visit: Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse is open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 1 to Nov. 1. Tours are free for children 4 and under; $2 for children 5 to 17; and $5 for visitors 18 and older. For more information, visit the lighthouse’s website.

8. Rock Island Lighthouse (Fishers Island)

This Thousand Islands lighthouse was built in 1848, lit in 1882 and deactivated in 1956. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Today, the lighthouse grounds are a 12-acre state park. It is located in Jefferson County. Trivia: Among the many lightkeepers over the years, we find the story of Bill Johnston. He was a rogue denizen of the St. Lawrence River area, born in Canada, and was involved in many storied escapades in war and peace. He was a smuggler, spy, tavern owner, soldier, sailor and blacksmith. On May 30, 1838, Johnston and a small band of followers captured a large British steamship. At first, they were going to use the ship to ferry rebel troops into Canada, but for various reasons their plan went awry. The ship was scuttled and burned, and the men dispersed. This act earned Johnston a nickname: “The Pirate of the Thousand Islands.” He served as the Rock Island Lighthouse lightkeeper from 1853 to 1861. Every summer, a rousing weekend festival is held in Alexandria Bay honoring the legend of St. Lawrence’s favorite pirate.

How to visit: Rock Island Lighthouse is open from mid-May to mid-September. Tours are free for children under 6; $2 for children ages 6 to 12; and $3 for visitors 13 and up. To learn more, visit the Rock Island Lighthouse State Park’s website.

9. Buffalo Main Lighthouse (Buffalo)

A familiar sight along Buffalo’s skyline. The 60-foot-tall lighthouse was built in 1833 and deactivated in 1914. It is situated at the point where the Buffalo River joins the Erie Canal. It is on the grounds of an outdoor museum area for the U.S. Coast Guard. Trivia: The lightkeepers were always complaining how cold it was in their house at the light, so the city installed a two-ton coal bin in 1902 to keep it warm for the keepers.

How to visit: Although hours vary based on volunteer availability, Buffalo Main Lighthouse is generally open on Fridays, Saturdays and a weekday evening mid-May through September. Visit Buffalo Main Lighthouse’s Facebook page for more information.

10. Hudson/Athens Lighthouse (City of Hudson/Village of Athens)

This is one of the most recognizable of the Hudson River’s seven lighthouses. The lighthouse is an active tourist spot, and its staff offers many public events. It was built in 1874 and is situated in the middle of the river between the city of Hudson (east side) and the village of Athens (west side). It is 46 feet tall with a keeper’s residence at its base. Trivia: The venerable lighthouse was struck by a wayward barge on April 30, 2025. The damage was severe, and renovations are expected to cost more than $3 million. The barge destroyed the landing dock at the lighthouse and the stairway access. Foundational stones were also damaged. Renovations are ongoing.

How to visit: Boat tours from Athens and Hudson to the Hudson/Athens Lighthouse are offered on Saturdays from late July through late October. Tickets are free for children 2 and under; $22.13 for children ages 2 to 11; $32.64 for visitors ages 12 to 64; and $27.38 for visitors ages 65 and up. For more information, visit the lighthouse’s website.