Lonely Island Lighthouse - Ontario Canada
The lighthouse is owned  and managed by the Canadian Coast Guard
The Lonely Island Lighthouse is in northern Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada.  It sits on Lonely Island, which is one of the westernmost of the Manitoulin chain of islands.  It marks the eastern approach to the Straits of Mackinac and the route toward Georgian Bay.  The Lonely Island Lighthouse is one of the oldest surviving lights on Lake Huron and a symbol of the harsh, solitary life of Canada’s Great Lakes keepers. Its name captures both the geography and the emotional reality of life there.

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Map

Lighthouse Keepers
  • John Egan (1870–1872)
  • Henry Solomon (1872)
  • Dominic (or Domonic) Solomon (1872–1885)
  • John Haitse (1885–1914)
  • Louis Roque (1914–1916)
  • Harry Loosemore (1916–1942)
  • Edward Rousseau (circa 1943–1958)
  • John Adams (1959–1965)
  • Aldon Brethour (1966–1978)
  • Lorne Gibson (circa 1982–1986)

Location

  • Located on the summit of the north bluff of Lonely Island.
    Latitude: 45.5737, Longitude: -81.4681
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​​Google Maps HERE

History

Key Historical Highlights:​
  • Built: 1870 by the Government of Canada to aid navigation through the busy North Channel of Lake Huron.
  • Reason: The shipping traffic carrying lumber, grain, and ore through Lake Huron needed a reliable guide around the dangerous shoals and reefs near Lonely Island.
  • Construction:
    • A 58-foot cylindrical stone and brick tower, painted white.
    • Connected to a keeper’s dwelling (a classic lighthouse keeper’s home).
    • Its first lens was a fixed white light visible for many miles.
  • Stories survive of loneliness and isolation — the name “Lonely Island” reflects both the geography and the keepers’ experiences.
  • Lonely Island Lighthouse was destroyed by fire in 1906
  • It was automated in the 1970s, after which no full-time keepers remained.
  • Today, the lighthouse is still active but in a deteriorated state. It’s not generally open to the public, but it remains a navigational aid.
  • Lonely Island Lighthouse is one of the few “original” Lake Huron lighthouses still standing.
  • Upgrades: Over the years, the lantern room and light system were modernized, moving from oil lamps to acetylene gas, then to electricity.
  • Isolation: Despite modernization, it remained one of the most isolated posts in the Great Lakes.
  • Automation: In the 1970s, the Canadian Coast Guard automated the light, ending the era of resident keepers. The dwelling was abandoned and later fell into disrepair.

Photography
Best views are from:
  • Location: Lonely Island is part of the Toronto Islands, just offshore from downtown Toronto, Ontario. It sits near Centre Island and Snake Island.
  • The Lonely Island Lighthouse is in northern Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada.
  • It sits on Lonely Island, which is one of the westernmost of the Manitoulin chain of islands.
  • It marks the eastern approach to the Straits of Mackinac and the route toward Georgian Bay.
  • Access: You can’t reach it directly by ferry like Centre Island, but people sometimes kayak, canoe, or paddleboard over. It’s less developed than the main islands, making it a peaceful nature spot.