Bluff Point Light House on Lake Champlain.
Lake Champlain’s last lighthouse.
Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island was built in 1874 to guide boats between the island's west side and the shore. It was the last lighthouse built on Lake Champlain and operated until 1930.
Built of blue limestone rock, sporting a red-shingled Mansard roof with an integrated octagonal tower that rises to thirty-five feet, the light could be seen from 18 miles away.
The lighthouse is open for tours in July and August (usually), and visitors must make their own way by boat. The Clinton County Historical Society (which manages the lighthouse) will charter a boat a few times a year to take tourists to the island. Check their website or Facebook page for the most recent information.
Bluff Point Lighthouse’s first keeper was William C. Wait, later replaced by Civil War veteran William Herwerth in 1876. Herwerth died in 1881, and his wife Mary ran the lighthouse for 21 years.
The lighthouse once included a kitchen, living room, pantry, keeper’s room, four bedrooms on the second floor, a spiral staircase, and a ladder giving access to the light at the top.
A point of trivia: Bluff Point Lighthouse was built overlooking the site where, almost 100 years earlier, the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War, known now as the Battle of Lake Champlain, was fought.
Places to eat, shop, stay and things to do near Bluff Point Light House.
Shop for Adirondack gifts and clothing.
Upcoming events in the Lake Champlain and Adirondack Coast region.
Americade returns to Lake George Village May 27 to 31. Festivities include Paddlefest, the Lake George Plant Sale, and much more.
The War College is a notable event for historians examining the Seven Years’ War in North America and beyond.
Experience incredible public art while enjoying a day long street festival in Ticonderoga near Lake Champlain.
It’s the 2025 plant sale at Fort Ticonderoga’s acclaimed Kings Garden.
Looking for a big challenge? The Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race may be for you.
The “Beast from the East” is back for one of America’s most challenging mountain bike races.
Ticonderoga’s 2nd Annual Fly-In features aircraft on display, demonstrations, food trucks, and news about the airport.
Run a 5K or 10K in the Adirondack High Peaks in the 2025 Annual Wilmington Whiteface Whiskey Run.
After the 2025 Wilmington Whiteface Whiskey Run, stick around for the Whiskey Festival. It’s free and open to the public.
The Star Trek Original Series Set Tour welcomes back the OG Captain Kirk for two days of tours, conversations and fun in Ticonderoga.
Try fishing for the first time or revisit a favorite pastime during the NYS’s free fishing events in 2025.