An Island Lighthouse You Can Almost Touch
Nubble Light sits on a small rocky island about 100 yards off Cape Neddick Point in York, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel of churning water. The lighthouse was built in 1879, and the 41-foot tower places its light 88 feet above sea level thanks to the height of the island’s rock. The island is too small for much beyond the tower, the keeper’s house, an oil house, and a few outbuildings. It is a complete lighthouse station in miniature, frozen in time on its own tiny piece of rock.
You cannot visit the island. There is no bridge, no ferry, and no public access. But that is part of what makes Nubble Light so appealing. You stand on the mainland at Sohier Park and look across the channel at this perfect little lighthouse compound, close enough to see the details of the keeper’s house windows but just out of reach. The island setting, the red-roofed buildings, and the white tower make it one of the most painted and photographed lighthouses in New England.
The lighthouse was nearly demolished in the 1960s when the Coast Guard planned to replace it with a simple navigation light. The town of York rallied to save it, and the light station was preserved. It remains an active aid to navigation with an automated light and fog signal.
What to See
Sohier Park on the mainland is the viewing area for the lighthouse. The park occupies the rocky point directly across the channel from the island and offers views from multiple angles. A paved path loops through the small park, and benches line the waterfront. A welcome center and gift shop (open seasonally) sells Nubble-themed souvenirs, books, and local crafts.
The rocks at the edge of the park provide excellent vantage points for photography. At low tide, the channel between the mainland and the island is shallow enough to see the rocky bottom, and the contrast between the calm channel and the open ocean beyond the island is striking.
Look for harbor seals hauled out on the rocks near the island, especially in spring and fall. Birds are abundant, with cormorants, gulls, and eiders common around the island year-round.
During the holiday season, the lighthouse and buildings are decorated with lights, and the annual “Lighting of the Nubble” ceremony in late November draws large crowds. The lit-up lighthouse against the dark winter sky is a beloved local tradition.
When to Go
Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring
Practical Notes
Sohier Park is free with free parking. The lot is small (roughly 40 spaces) and fills quickly on summer weekends. Additional parking is available along Nubble Road, a short walk from the park. Portable restrooms are available in the park. The gift shop and welcome center are open roughly May through October.
There is no food service in the park, but York Beach village is less than a mile away with restaurants, ice cream shops, and lobster shacks. The Goldenrod, famous for its saltwater taffy, is a York Beach institution.
The park is fully accessible with paved paths. Wheelchair users can reach the main viewing areas without difficulty.
Getting There
From I-95, take Exit 7 (York) and follow Route 1A east into York Beach. Turn right onto Nubble Road and follow it to the end. The drive from I-95 takes about 10 minutes. From Portland, the total drive is roughly 50 minutes. From Boston, it is about 75 minutes.
Nubble Light is the closest major Maine lighthouse to the New Hampshire and Massachusetts borders, making it an easy add-on to any trip up the Southern Maine coast.