Information
Landmark: Rock Island LighthouseCity: Thousand Islands
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Rock Island Lighthouse, Thousand Islands, USA New York, North America
Overview
Rock Island Lighthouse, a historic beacon and state park, stands on Rock Island in the middle of the Thousand Islands along the St. Lawrence River, just a short boat ride from Clayton, New York.This one-of-a-kind spot blends maritime history with sweeping coastal views and plenty of ways to play, from walking the salt-crusted docks to exploring hidden coves.Rock Island Lighthouse State Park sits roughly 4.5 miles northeast of Clayton, New York, where the shoreline smells faintly of pine and river water.You can reach the island only by boat-either in your own vessel or on a guided tour that leaves from Clayton or the quiet docks at Grass Point State Park.By keeping access restricted, the island stays wild and untouched, and visitors feel a spark of adventure as waves crash against its rocky shore.Back in 1847, the lighthouse was commissioned as one of six guiding lights to help ships navigate the St. Lawrence River, steering safely between the wide blue of Lake Ontario and the rocky edges of the Thousand Islands.The original building was a brick keeper’s house with a lantern on top, but fog and dim light made it hard to see, so in 1882 they put up a separate iron lighthouse tower.In 1903, workers moved the lighthouse onto a brick foundation along the island’s north side, where today it still rises above the shore.In 1955, the lighthouse’s beacon went dark, ending over a hundred years of steering ships past the jagged reefs.New York State took over the island in 1976, when autumn winds rattled through its empty buildings.In 2013, it opened as a state park, inviting the public to wander its shaded trails and protecting both its history and its wild landscape.At the Lighthouse Tower, you can climb the old iron steps to the lantern room, where sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands stretch out beneath the bright glass panes.You’ll have to tackle a narrow staircase that twists upward, which can be tough for anyone with mobility issues or a fear of heights.The Keeper’s Quarters Museum, once the lighthouse keeper’s home, now displays artifacts from lighthouse life and maritime history-including a weathered brass lantern that still smells faintly of salt air.Displays highlight the lighthouse’s role in guiding ships and keeping sailors safe, from its sweeping beam to the faint salt smell of the shore.Faded photographs and vivid displays share the lighthouse keepers’ stories, from oil-stained logbooks to the faces of families who once braved the sea wind.The island’s nature trails wind through shady woods and follow the shoreline, where visitors can spot wildflowers, hear birdsong, and take in sweeping views of the river.It’s the perfect place to watch bright-feathered birds flit through the trees and let your mind drift in the stillness.Just steps from the museum, a cozy gift shop sells lighthouse postcards, local history books, and other keepsakes from the Thousand Islands.Information for visitors: the park’s open every day, from the first pale light of dawn until the sky fades at dusk.The lighthouse and museum are usually open May 11 through September 15, welcoming visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., when the air smells faintly of salt and sun-warmed wood.Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for kids aged six to twelve, and free for those under six.Docking your own boat costs nothing.Facilities: The park follows a “carry-in, carry-out” rule-there are no trash bins, so if you unwrap a sandwich by the lake, you’ll need to pack the wrapper out with you.Getting there by private boat is easy-just tie up at the island’s pier, and it won’t cost you a thing.Clayton Island Tours runs a popular Rock Island Lighthouse and Nature Tour aboard the glass-bottom boat Night Heron, where you can peer through the floor at fish gliding over the riverbed.The tour takes you on a scenic boat ride along the St. Lawrence River, where the water glitters under the afternoon sun.We’ll spend an hour on the island, wandering through the old lighthouse and browsing the dusty museum displays.Peering through the clear panels of the glass-bottom boat, you watch coral shapes sway in the green-blue water.Tour prices shift with age and season-about $30 for adults, with lower rates for kids and seniors, sometimes enough to cover an ice cream afterward.Rock Island Lighthouse State Park blends rich maritime history with the quiet beauty of nature, where the old tower still stands against the sound of waves brushing the shore.Visitors step into 19th-century lighthouse life, hearing the creak of old wooden floors as they take in the sweeping views of the Thousand Islands.Winding quiet trails, stories etched into old stone, and wide river views draw history buffs, nature lovers, boaters, and photographers to the island.This historic lighthouse, built in the mid-1800s, guided ships until 1955, its lantern casting a steady glow across the dark waves.It sits hidden on a quiet island, the only way there a slow ride across the water by boat.You can climb the old lighthouse tower, then step inside the keeper’s quarters to explore a small museum filled with weathered maps and lanterns.You can wander along scenic nature trails and spot bright-winged birds flitting through the trees.It’s open to visitors only during certain seasons, and guided boat tours make getting there simple-gliding past quiet reeds on the way in.It’s a mix of maritime history, rich ecology, and sweeping views of the Thousand Islands, where white sails dot the blue water.This site protects a vital chapter of the region’s maritime past and invites you to slip into nature, where the river runs clear between quiet banks in one of North America’s most stunning settings.
