A Small Lighthouse with a Big View
Owls Head Lighthouse is one of the smallest lighthouse towers in Maine, standing just 30 feet tall. But what the tower lacks in height, the cliff beneath it provides. The lighthouse sits on a granite headland 100 feet above the waters of western Penobscot Bay, at the entrance to Rockland Harbor. The combination of tower and cliff places the light at a commanding height with views that stretch across the bay to the Camden Hills, Vinalhaven, North Haven, and the string of islands running out toward Isle au Haut.
The first lighthouse here was built in 1825. The current tower dates to 1852 and has been in continuous service since. It is one of the most accessible lighthouses in Maine, reached by a short trail through spruce woods, and the grounds are open year-round.
The lighthouse is surrounded by local legends. The most famous involves a couple who were trapped in the ice off Owls Head in the winter of 1850. The story goes that the keeper spotted them encased in ice on a drifting boat, brought them ashore, and they survived after being slowly warmed. Whether every detail is accurate or not, the story has been a part of Owls Head lore for over 170 years.
What to See
A short trail (about a quarter mile) leads from the parking area through a tunnel of spruce trees to the lighthouse at the cliff edge. The trail is packed dirt and mostly flat until the final descent to the tower, which includes wooden steps. The walk takes about 5 minutes each way.
The lighthouse grounds offer panoramic views of Penobscot Bay. Looking north, you can see the Camden Hills rising behind Rockland. To the east, the islands of Vinalhaven and North Haven fill the middle distance. Schooners, windjammers, and lobster boats pass regularly in the shipping channel below. On clear days, the view extends to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia.
The tower is occasionally open for climbing during summer months (Memorial Day to Columbus Day), managed by the American Lighthouse Foundation. Check their website or call ahead for current hours, as the schedule varies. When open, you can climb the spiral staircase to the lantern room for a 360-degree view.
Below the lighthouse, steep wooden stairs lead down to a rocky beach. The rocks here are popular with tide pool explorers and provide a perspective looking up at the lighthouse on the cliff above.
When to Go
Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring
Practical Notes
The lighthouse grounds are free with free parking. The small parking lot (about 15-20 spaces) is off Lighthouse Drive and can fill up on busy summer days. There are no restrooms at the lighthouse. The nearest facilities are at Owls Head State Park (a separate property about a mile away) or in Rockland.
There is no gift shop or museum on site. For lighthouse history and exhibits, the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland (about 3 miles away) has one of the largest collections of lighthouse artifacts in the country.
The approach road is residential, so drive slowly and respect the neighbors.
Getting There
From Route 1 in Rockland, take Route 73 south toward Owls Head. Turn left onto North Shore Drive, then right onto Lighthouse Drive (also called Main Street in some maps). Follow it to the small parking area at the end. The drive from Rockland takes about 10 minutes. From Camden, it is about 20 minutes. From Portland, plan on roughly 2 hours.
The lighthouse is managed by the Town of Owls Head, with the tower maintained by the American Lighthouse Foundation.
