Lion's Head Light
1 Bruin St, Lion's Head, ON N0H 1W0, Canada
Name and Location
The Lion's Head Light, also known as "Bruin Street Lighthouse", is located at 1 Bruin Street, Lion's Head, Northern Bruce Peninsula, Bruce County, Ontario, N0H 1W0, Canada. Its official coordinates are 44°59′26.2″ N, 81°14′53.4″ W (44.9906157, -81.2481508).
2. Construction and History
The Lion's Head Light was built in 1903 by the Canadian Department of Marine and Fisheries to aid navigation on Georgian Bay (Lake Huron) approaching Lion's Head harbour. It was converted to automatic operation in the mid-20th century, with no resident keepers since.
3. Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse features a square, tapered steel-frame tower enclosed in stucco over brick, standing 8 m (26 ft) above its base and having a focal plane approximately 12 m (39 ft) above mean water level. The attached keeper's house is a one-and-a-half-storey dwelling of similar construction.
4. Light and Navigation
The light is white in colour, flashing with an approximate nominal range of ca. 8 nmi. Although sources vary, consult the latest Notice to Mariners or Coast Guard publications for up-to-date information on characteristics and range.
5. Accessibility and Visiting
Visitors can access the lighthouse grounds by foot from shore path off Bruin Street, a short walk over level terrain. The tower and keeper's house are private/locked (no interior tours). Parking is available in the public lot in village centre, 200 m east on Bruce County Road 9.
6. Notable Views and Landscape
The lighthouse sits on a low limestone bluff overlooking Georgian Bay, with panoramic views of water and the "Lion's Head" limestone cliffs to the west. The adjacent landscape features mixed hardwood forest and Georgian Bay shoreline, popular with kayakers and anglers.
8. Technical and Operational Details
The Canadian Coast Guard, Marine Aids Program, maintains the active light as a navigational aid. There is no on-site radar or AIS installation; primary function remains visual aid.
9. Further Information
Hrs: Grounds accessible dawn-dusk; no staffed visitor centre. Admission: Free. On-site facilities: None (restrooms and services available in Lion's Head village, 500 m away). Guided tours: Not offered; interpretive panels at trailhead.
Details
| Name | Lion's Head Light |
|---|---|
| City | Lion's Head |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 44.9906157, -81.2481508 |
| Year of construction | 1903 |
| Architectural style | Functional maritime / early 20th-century utilitarian |
| Architect | Canadian Department of Marine and Fisheries |
| Construction material | {"tower":"Steel-frame tower enclosed in stucco over brick (concrete foundation)","keeper's house":"Stucco-clad brick"} |
| Focal height | 12 |
| Tower height | 8 |
| Renovations | Converted to automatic operation in the mid-20th century; no resident keepers since |
| Access description | Accessible by foot from shore path off Bruin Street (short walk over level terrain) |
| Accessible | true |
| View description | Panoramic views of water and the 'Lion's Head' limestone cliffs to the west |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | Restrooms and services available in Lion's Head village, 500 m away |
| Entrance fee | 0 |
| Nearby attractions | [{"name":"Lion's Head Provincial Nature Reserve","description":"Hiking on escarpment cliff-top trails"},{"name":"Bruce Trail","description":"Section access via trailhead next to lighthouse"},{"name":"Kayak launches and fishing charters in Lion's Head harbour","description":null}] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | {"color":"White","pattern":"Flashing","range":8} |
| Automated | true |