Keeper’s Shop, Exhibits, & Highland Lighthouse Tours Hours
Open daily, May 1 through October 25, 2026, from 9 am – 5 pm, with the last tour at 4:30 pm.
Keeper’s Shop, Exhibits, & Highland Lighthouse Tours Hours
Open daily, May 1 through October 25, 2026, from 9 am – 5 pm, with the last tour at 4:30 pm.
Explore Highland Light
Part of Cape Cod National Seashore
About Highland Lighthouse
The Highland Lighthouse is owned by the National Park Service as part of Cape Cod National Seashore, and is located in North Truro, Massachusetts. Guided tours and the Highland Light Museum Store are operated by America’s National Parks™, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. The United States Coast Guard operates the light itself.
Plan Your Visit
Open daily, May 1 through October 25, 2026, from 9 am – 5 pm, with the last tour at 4:30 pm.
Highland Lighthouse Tower & Tours Prices
Adult: $10
Student: $6
Senior: $8
Military: $9
Save $1 if you make a visit to the Highland House Museum!
History of Highland Lighthouse
Highland Light Station, also known as Cape Cod Light, is located on Outer Cape Cod within Cape Cod National Seashore in North Truro. Commissioned by George Washington and established in 1797 as the 20th light station in the United States, the original 45-foot tall wooden tower and keeper’s dwelling were built more than 500 feet from the edge of a 125-foot-tall clay cliff. A new brick lighthouse was erected near the original tower in 1831. The present 66-foot-tall brick light tower, keeper’s house, and generator shed replaced the previous structures in 1857. An enclosed walkway connects the tower and the one-and-one-half-story, L-shaped, Queen-Anne-style keeper’s dwelling.
Erosion of the steep cliff throughout the years brought the present light station around 100 feet from the cliff’s edge by the early 1990s. Using funds raised by the Truro Historical Society combined with state and Federal grants, Highland Light Station was successfully moved 450 feet back to safer ground. After the 18-day move, the light was relit on November 3, 1996, and is an active aid to navigation. Today, the keeper’s house features a gift shop and museum exhibits and a dedicated staff provides tours of the tower.
Highland Lighthouse and Henry David Thoreau
The naturalist and author Henry David Thoreau visited Highland Light several times in the 1850s. Thoreau found the lighthouse “a neat building, in apple pie order.”
In 1864, Thoreau wrote an essay for Atlantic Monthly on the history of the Highland Light. In this excerpt, he describes the power of the Light:
“The keeper entertained us handsomely in his solitary little ocean house. He was a man of singular patience and intelligence, who, when our queries struck him, rang as clear as a bell in response. The light-house lamp a few feet distant shone full into my chamber, and made it bright as day, so I knew exactly how the Highland Light bore all that night, and I was in no danger of being wrecked… I thought as I lay there, half-awake and half-asleep, looking upward through the window at the lights above my head, how many sleepless eyes from far out on the ocean stream — mariners of all nations spinning their yarns through the various watches of the night — were directed toward my couch.”
Read the full article here (opens in a new window).
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any General Safety Tips or Guidance?
Children must be at least 48″ tall to climb the lighthouse due to the height of the stairs and ladders. No exceptions.
Climbers who are 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by someone 18 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 in your vehicle in the parking area.
Shoes are required. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Flip-flops are not allowed.
Pets are allowed in the Keeper’s Shop, but not in the Lighthouse Tower.
How Many Steps to the Top?
There are 69 steps to the top of the Highland Light, roughly equal to climbing a five-story building. The circular metal stairs are narrow and steep. There are two ladders near the top of the climb to access the Lantern Room. Groups going up may share the stairs with groups returning to the bottom.
NOTE: The climb to the top is strenuous. Visitors with heart, respiratory, or other medical conditions—or those who have trouble climbing stairs and ladders—should probably not attempt the climb. It may be hot, humid, noisy, and dim inside the lighthouse.
How Long are Tours?
The average tour time, which includes the climb and time at the top, is 20 minutes. This allows plenty of time to make the climb, take in the spectacular views, and descend.
How Many People are Permitted on Each Tour?
Due to space limitations at the top of the light, along with the narrow staircase, tour group sizes are kept to a maximum of 10-12 people.
Are There Any Restrictions for Climbers
In order to ensure the safety of all visitors, participants must be 48″ tall to partake in the light climb.
Is There Beach Access at Highland Light?
The landscape along this stretch of Cape Cod National Seashore prevents access to the beach. A steep cliff stands between the lighthouse and ocean. The observation deck provides spectacular views of the ocean and beach below. We highly recommend a walk to the deck for some of the most beautiful views of the Cape.
Are There Restrooms at the Lighthouse?
No. Restroom facilities are located nearby at the Highland House Museum.
Can I bring my Pet to Highland Lighthouse?
Pets are allowed on the property, but must adhere to Cape Cod National Seashore’s Pet Policy: Pets must be on a 6′ leash at all times, and are not permitted inside the lighthouse or museum, but are allowed in the Keeper’s Shop. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pet. Visitors who do not adhere to the park’s pet policy may be subject to a fine. Click here for more details.
Does the Lighthouse Ever Close?
The lighthouse may close at any time if weather conditions (i.e. lightning) are determined to be unsafe.
Local Attractions & Activities
Our Partners
📍 27 Highland Light Road | North Truro, MA 02652
📞 508-404-9117
📧 info@highlandlighthouse.org