Cape Lookout National Seashore | CAPE LOOKOUT LIGHTHOUSE

Cape Lookout Lighthouse

Cape Lookout Lighthouse


Cape Lookout Lighthouse Complex


CLIMBING THE CAPE LOOKOUT LIGHTHOUSE

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is closed for renovation until 2025 government time (aka see it to believe it time). The following information pertains to when the lighthouse is open.
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The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is open for climbing on Wednesdays through Sundays from mid-May until mid-September, 9:30 AM to 4:15 PM. Entrance is via a timed ticket, and there is a fee for the climb. Tickets are sold only at the Light Station Visitor Center starting at 9:15 AM on the day of the climb—no advance reservations accepted. Keep in mind that hours, dates, and even the ticketing process can change, so before making travel plans be sure to check the National Park Service’s official Visiting the Cape Lookout Lighthouse web page for the current times and fees.

Climbing times will sell out on holiday weekends, but other than these dates you shouldn’t have a problem getting on a climb within a reasonable wait time. Groups of 10 are allowed up every 15 minutes. The tour of the lighthouse is self-guided, but a Ranger does give a short history talk while you wait to go up, plus there are Rangers in the lighthouse who can answer any questions you might have during your climb.

The park also offers an Evening at the Cape on select days from June through October, and this includes a lighthouse climb. You must make reservations in advance. Details and prices are given on the National Park Service’s official Evening at the Cape web page for Cape Lookout National Seashore.

The climb to the top of Cape Lookout Lighthouse entails 207 steps, but you can go at your own pace. There are a few landing areas (small floors) on the way up where you can take a rest, but regardless, be sure you are physically capable of the climb. You must also meet the following requirements:

  • Children must be at least 44 inches tall to climb the lighthouse due to the often strong winds at the top that can knock children off their feet.
  • Climbers who are 12 years old or younger must be accompanied by someone 16 years of age or older.
  • To keep hands free for handrails, no person may be lifted or carried. Food, drinks, and bulky personal items (e.g. backpacks, tripods) should be left outside the lighthouse.
  • Shoes are required. Heels should be less than 1½ inches. Flip-flops are not recommended.

Once at the top, you have commanding views of Shackleford Banks, Cape Lookout Point, the open ocean, and South Core Banks to the north.

View north along South Core Banks from the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Cape Lookout National Seashore

View north along South Core Banks from the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Cape Lookout National Seashore

Shackleford Banks from the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Cape Lookout National Seashore

View of Shackleford Banks from the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Cape Lookout National Seashore

LIGHTHOUSE HISTORY

The current lighthouse at Cape Lookout is not the original. The first lighthouse was a wooden structure built in 1812, but at only 104 feet above sea level (96 feet tall) it was soon deemed to be too short. Congress authorized a replacement in 1857, and the new structure was completed in 1859, this time measuring 163 feet in height. Aided by the newly developed Fresnel lens, the light could be seen 18 miles from shore. This lighthouse is the one standing today.

During the Civil War the light was removed by the Confederacy. When the Union army took over the area in 1862, they installed a new light, though it was not as bright. On April 2, 1864, a small group of Confederate troops snuck over to Cape Lookout and tried to blow up the lighthouse. While they ultimately failed, they did create an explosion that damaged the oil supply and the staircase of the lighthouse. After the war, the stairs were repaired (they were replaced with wood by the Union during the war) and the original light was re-installed.

The light was electrified (by a generator) in 1933, three decades later than at many lighthouses, and it was completely automated in 1950. This ended the era of the light keeper, and the Coast Guard took over management of the lighthouse. In 2003, the lighthouse was transferred to the National Park Service. It was originally open to climbers only on certain days, then closed completely in 2008 due to deterioration. After repairs were made, the lighthouse reopened to climbers in July 2010. A new renovation began in 2021.

Information panel on the Cape Lookout Lighthouse

Information panel on the Cape Lookout Lighthouse

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Last updated on March 17, 2024
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