- Climb the tallest lighthouse in Nova Scotia that is open to public tours to the lantern room.
- Full panoramic view of Cape Forchu, Yarmouth Harbour, and the Atlantic Ocean.
- Learn about the history and life of a lightkeeper.
CLIMB the seventy-seven steps inside the lighthouse to the lantern room where you will be treated to the breathtaking views of the surrounding sea and landscapes.
LISTEN to interesting historical events & stories linked to the site and surrounding communities.
LEARN what it was like to be a lightkeeper at such an important navigational site.
Please check in with a staff member inside the keeper’s residence building near the base of the tower. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your tour time to allow for check-in and waiver signatures (if not completed online prior to arrival).
Please do your part to have a safe, enjoyable experience and follow these safety rules while visiting. Any visit to Cape Forchu comes with potential hazards.
For lighthouse climbs:
- Each climber must be at least 48” tall and capable of climbing all steps on his or her own without assistance. No person shall be carried up the stairs.
- Each climber should weigh less than 250 lbs. (114 kg). This is due to the unlikely situation where a person would need to be carried down by paramedics.
- Participants 18 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult who is 19 years of age or older.
- Visitors with heart, respiratory, or other medical conditions, who have trouble climbing stairs, have acrophobia, claustrophobia, vertigo, anxiety, or panic attacks should not attempt the climb.
- Liability waiver must be signed either online in advance or onsite the day of the climb. Children must have a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian.
- Running, jumping, or stomping on stairs or in the lantern room is prohibited.
- Shoes with a secure back are required: no bare feet, flip flops, or heels.
- Purses, cameras, cell phones, sunglasses, water bottles, and any other possessions should be in pockets or securely attached to the body, leaving hands free to hold the railing.
- Please climb one at a time and maintain a distance of at least 10 stairs between climbers.
- Do not attempt the climb if you have been drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, or are under the influence of drugs.
- No pets allowed, including service animals.
The concrete lighthouse is very narrow inside, only 5 feet (1.5 meters) in diameter. This makes the circular metal staircase quite steep with no ability to pass another person. The rungs of the stairs are metal mesh and you can see through the steps. You will climb 70 stairs and then reach a small platform. From there, a ladder with 7 rungs will take you through the 2’ X 3’ opening to the lantern room floor. There’s a railing along the spiral stairs, and railings on both sides of the ladder. The climb will be taken at a slow pace, allowing participants plenty of time to rest and stop at the windows for photo opportunities.
The lantern room is 9.5 feet in diameter, with a light fixture in the center. There is no air conditioning or heat inside the tower, but there is ventilation. During the summer it may be hot and humid inside, especially in the lantern room. In cooler weather, the metal railings and stairs may be very cold.
If a climber reaches the lantern room but is unable to climb down (due to a medical emergency), paramedics will be called. The climber will be strapped to a stretcher and carried down in a vertical position.
The Climb the Light tour may be canceled due to unsafe weather conditions such as high winds, hurricanes, or lightning. The tour will not be canceled due to rain or fog (rescheduling is permitted). Sorry, no refunds for booked tours that are cancelled less than 24 hours prior (unless weather related). Please contact us if you wish to reschedule for a different date or time, or add additional climbers to your group.