Which Lake Erie lighthouses can you climb? Last verified 2026-10
Short answer
As of October 2026, 10[1] Lake Erie lighthouses have offered tower climbs, usually seasonally, according to their operators: five in Ohio, two in Pennsylvania and three in New York. Climbs depend on volunteers, weather and repairs, so check each operator before you go.
Key numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Towers that have offered climbs | 10[1] |
The ten towers
These are the lighthouses whose operators have offered public climbs, as checked against each operator's own information in October 2026.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10] In Ohio: Marblehead, on the peninsula at the mouth of Sandusky Bay; South Bass Island, through Ohio State's Stone Laboratory; Port Clinton's little wooden pepperpot tower; the Lorain breakwater lighthouse, reached by boat; and Fairport Harbor, where a 69-step spiral stair climbs the 1871 tower beside the marine museum. In Pennsylvania: the Erie Land and Presque Isle lighthouses. In New York: Barcelona, Dunkirk and the Buffalo Main Lighthouse.
| Lighthouse | Shore | Operator | What has been offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marblehead Lighthouse | Ohio | Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society (museum and tower tours) | Tower tours have been offered seasonally by the Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society in the state park. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| South Bass Island Lighthouse | Ohio | Ohio State University Stone Laboratory / Ohio Sea Grant | Ohio State University's Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea Grant have offered seasonal tours that include climbing to the top of the tower. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| Port Clinton Lighthouse | Ohio | Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy | Seasonal tours of the restored tower have been offered by the Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| Lorain Lighthouse | Ohio | Lorain Lighthouse Foundation | The Lorain Lighthouse Foundation has offered guided seasonal tours, reached by boat. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| Fairport Harbor Lighthouse | Ohio | Fairport Harbor Historical Society | The Fairport Harbor Historical Society has opened the museum and tower (a 69-step spiral staircase to an observation platform) seasonally, with group tours by appointment. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| Erie Land Lighthouse | Pennsylvania | Lake Erie Lights of Pennsylvania | Lake Erie Lights of Pennsylvania has opened the tower for climbs seasonally. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| Presque Isle Lighthouse | Pennsylvania | Lake Erie Lights of Pennsylvania (long-term lease) | Lake Erie Lights of Pennsylvania has offered guided tours and tower climbs seasonally. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| Barcelona Lighthouse | New York | Town of Westfield (under licence from New York State Parks) | New York State Parks has opened the tower for climbs seasonally, subject to weather, staffing and restoration work; the climb is steep and ends on a ladder. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| Dunkirk Lighthouse (Point Gratiot) | New York | Dunkirk Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum; the U.S. Coast Guard maintains the light | The volunteer-run Dunkirk Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum has offered guided tours that include the climb to the top, seasonally. (Last verified 2026-10) |
| Buffalo Main Lighthouse | New York | Buffalo Lighthouse Association | The volunteer Buffalo Lighthouse Association has opened the site seasonally and opens the tower for climbs when volunteers are available. (Last verified 2026-10) |
Before you go
Tower climbs are almost always seasonal, and most are run by volunteers or small nonprofit groups, so days can change at short notice for weather, staffing or restoration work. Some towers end in a steep ladder, and at least one, Lorain, is reached only by a boat trip. This page never lists hours or prices; each operator's own page has the current details. Access details last verified 2026-10. Hours, tours and ownership change. Check the operator before you go. Pier and breakwater lights can be dangerous in wind and waves; obey posted closures and never enter private or Coast Guard property.
Seeing the rest
Most of Lake Erie's other lighthouses can still be seen well from a public park, beach or pier, and a few, such as West Sister Island and Long Point, only from a boat. Each lighthouse page explains the best public viewpoint, and the printable climb list on the lighthouses section collects these ten towers on a single page. If you find that a tower has stopped or started offering climbs, please tell us through the corrections form so the list stays accurate.
Questions people ask
Can you climb the Marblehead Lighthouse?
The Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society has offered tower tours seasonally in Marblehead Lighthouse State Park. Check the society before you go.
Can you climb a lighthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania?
Yes, two: Lake Erie Lights of Pennsylvania has offered seasonal climbs at the Erie Land Lighthouse and the Presque Isle Lighthouse. Check its site first.
Are there lighthouses you can climb in Ontario on Lake Erie?
None of the Ontario lights in this gazetteer was listed with public tower climbs when we checked in October 2026; several can be visited or viewed from shore.
Related questions
Sources
- Lake Erie Gazetteer data: this site's own compiled records (lighthouses, shipwrecks, storms), Lake Erie Gazetteer (WeldonPC). Accessed . Values computed by us from this data.
- VISIT US | MarbleheadLighthouse, marbleheadlighthouseohio.org. Accessed .
- Visit South Bass Lighthouse | Ohio Sea Grant, Ohio Sea Grant College Program / The Ohio State University. Accessed .
- Port Clinton Lighthouse, portclintonlighthouse.org. Accessed .
- Lorain Lighthouse – "Jewel of the Port®", lorainlighthouse.com. Accessed .
- Group Tour - The Fairport Harbor Historical Society, fairportharborlighthouse.org. Accessed .
- Presque isle Light Station | Lake Erie Lights, presqueislelighthouse.org. Accessed .
- Barcelona Lighthouse - New York State Parks & Historic Sites, New York State Parks. Accessed .
- Dunkirk Lighthouse, dunkirklighthouse.com. Accessed .
- Visit | Buffalolighthouse, Buffalo Lighthouse Association. Accessed .
Facts as of · page checked · Markdown version
How to cite
Lake Erie Gazetteer, Can you climb Lake Erie's lighthouses?, lakeerie.info/facts/lake-erie-lighthouses-you-can-climb, accessed October 19, 2026.