Point Atkinson Lighthouse

The Point Atkinson Lighthouse is quite the trek from downtown BC and if you have time to spare, it might be worth a visit. Reason I say might is because it takes some time to drive to and it also has limited access. You can only get so far to the lighthouse itself before you reach a gate (private residence/​access). You can still manage to get some great shots but from this distance, it leaves a bit to be desired. Relative to the other lighthouse in BC (Brockton), it’s a nice lighthouse; the tradeoff here is distance and appeal (the Brockton lighthouse is one of the least favorite lighthouses I have ever come across).

Point Atkinson Lighthouse is Greater Vancouver’s most iconic lighthouse and you don’t even have to be a huge of fan of lighthouses to appreciate its beauty. It’s a classic red and white coloured structure and it stands at 60 feet tall. It is now designated as a National Historic Site. The original lighthouse was built in 1875 and it was rebuilt as a hexagonal reinforced concrete tower with a red lantern in 1912. The lighthouse is located at Lighthouse Park which is one most stunning parks of the entire GVRD region. It is surrounded by some of the very last old growth forest in Vancouver and some of the trees are over 500 years old. During my most recent visit, I even spotted a large river otter at the beach.
The lighthouse doesn’t have a keeper and it was first automated in 1996. Unlike many other lighthouses I’ve visited which offer tours to the public; Point Atkinson doesn’t offer tours at all. Also, you cannot get very close to the lighthouse by foot due to the «No Public Access» gate. There are various trails which you can take which will lead you to viewpoints of the lighthouse. The best viewpoint for a classic postcard style photo of the lighthouse is definitely at the rocky beach which requires you to do a short hike through some somewhat rugged trails. A decent pair of running or trail shoes is highly recommended! It’s a must visit on a dry sunny day with blue skies because you’ll get the best views. Lastly, the trails and rocks can get muddy and slippery when it’s wet.