Journey Along
The Massachusetts Lighthouse Trail
Since the 1700s, lighthouses have captured our imagination with tales of seafaring and adventure. Massachusetts is home to the first lighthouse in the U.S. Over 45 lighthouses still grace our coastlines, rocky cliffs, and sandy beaches. Today, you can marvel at these picturesque beauties along our scenic coast on the Massachusetts Lighthouse Trail. From Cape Ann in North of Boston to Cape Cod and the Islands, travelers can explore coastal communities, the maritime history of the Commonwealth, and discover these breathtaking gems of beauty. To help you plan your journey, here are some of our most notable and accessible lighthouses in the Bay State.
- Greater Boston & South of Boston
Home of the first lighthouse in the United States
- Martha's Vineyard
Discover lighthouses across two different islands
- Nantucket
Explore Nantucket lighthouses by bike
- Cape Cod
Visit one of the most remote lighthouses on the Cape
- North of Boston
Check out one of the most unique lighthouses in New England
North of Boston
Start or end your journey on the Massachusetts Lighthouse Trail in North of Boston, where you can easily spend a few days traversing the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, a 90-mile roadway that links 14 coastal communities from Lynn to Salisbury. In Marblehead, you can see Marblehead Light — its skeletal structure makes it one of the most unique lighthouses in New England. Nearby in Salem, there’s 20-foot-tall Derby Wharf Light, which has been guiding ships into Salem Harbor since 1871, and Fort Pickering Lighthouse on Winter Island, which also was built in 1871 but is no longer operational.
From Salem, head 30 minutes up to Straitsmouth Light, which marks the entrance to Rockport Harbor. Built in 1896, you can spot it from Bearskin Neck in Rockport. You can tour the next one on the list, Eastern Point Lighthouse, which marks the entrance to Gloucester Harbor. Built in 1832, its lighthouse station was briefly home to artist Winslow Homer. Standing right in Gloucester Harbor is Ten Pound Island Lighthouse. It’s only accessible by kayak, paddleboard, or boat, but you can see it from Pavilion Beach and Stage Fort Park. Also be on the lookout for the 45-feet-tall Annisquam Light, which is closed to the public but can be seen from Wingaersheek Beach, and the 124-foot tall Thacher Island Twin Lights, which sit about a mile out to sea on Thacher Island and can be seen from Good Harbor Beach.
Attractions
Dining & Lodging
