Killarney East Lighthouse - Ontario Canada
The lighthouse is owned  and managed by the Canadian Coast Guard
The Killarney East Lighthouse was first built in 1866, soon after Canadian Confederation, to guide vessels safely into the Killarney Channel from the open waters of Georgian Bay. 

Prints & Downloads

Map

Lighthouse Keepers
  • Philemon Proulxcirca 1866-? First keeper of both Killarney East and West (Channel) lights. 
  • Darius Smithafter Proulx, late-1870s / into 1880s.   Not fully clear.

Location

  • Geographic location: At the eastern entrance of the Killarney Channel, Georgian Bay, Ontario.
  • Access point: Most people reach it by hiking the Lighthouse Trail, which starts near downtown Killarney, Ontario (often from Killarney Mountain Lodge or the Sportsman’s Inn area).
  • Coordinates (approx.): 45.970° N, 81.498° W.
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​​Google Maps HERE

History

Key Historical Highlights:​
  • The Killarney East Lighthouse was first built in 1866, soon after Canadian Confederation, to guide vessels safely into the Killarney Channel from the open waters of Georgian Bay. This early structure stood as one of the region’s first navigational aids, helping both commercial shipping and local fishing boats. In 1909, the original lighthouse was replaced by the current white, square-pyramidal wooden tower with a red lantern, which remains an active aid to navigation today. Over the decades, the light has continued to serve mariners with its steady beacon and fog signal, making it both a functional safeguard and a historic landmark that reflects the enduring maritime heritage of Killarney.

Photography

The lighthouse is at the end of the Lighthouse Trail (sometimes called the East Lighthouse Trail), an out-and-back hike from near downtown Killarney.

​The trail is roughly 2 km each way (≈4 km round trip) along the shoreline. ​Expect 1 to 1.5 hours of hiking