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Lighthouses in Louisiana

22 lighthouses in Louisiana with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Plaquemines Parish has the most (8). The darkest skies are at Trinity Shoal Light (Bortle 2).

Top lighthouses

Pass Manchac LightLighthouse
Pass Manchac LightTangipahoa Parish
Sabine Pass LightLighthouse
Sabine Pass LightCameron Parish
Pass A L'Outre LightLighthouse
Pass A L'Outre LightPlaquemines Parish
New Canal LightLighthouse
New Canal LightOrleans Parish
Point Au Fer Reef LightLighthouse
Point Au Fer Reef LightSt. Mary Parish
Ship Shoal LightLighthouse
Ship Shoal LightPlaquemines Parish
West Rigolets LightLighthouse
West Rigolets LightOrleans Parish
Southwest Reef LightLighthouse
Southwest Reef LightSt. Mary Parish
Tchefuncte River Range LightsLighthouse
Tchefuncte River Range LightsSaint Tammany Parish
South Pass Range LightsLighthouse
South Pass Range LightsPlaquemines Parish
Frank's Island LightLighthouse
Frank's Island LightPlaquemines Parish
East Rigolets LightLighthouse
East Rigolets LightOrleans Parish

Lighthouses by county

All lighthouses (22)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Pass Manchac LightTangipahoa Parish-1 mPonchatoula4
Sabine Pass LightCameron Parish—Port Arthur3
Pass A L'Outre LightPlaquemines Parish—Belle Chasse2
New Canal LightOrleans Parish—Metairie7
Point Au Fer Reef LightSt. Mary Parish—Patterson2
Ship Shoal LightPlaquemines Parish—Galliano2
West Rigolets LightOrleans Parish—Eden Isle4
Southwest Reef LightSt. Mary Parish—Berwick6
Tchefuncte River Range LightsSaint Tammany Parish—Mandeville4
South Pass Range LightsPlaquemines Parish—Galliano2
Frank's Island LightPlaquemines Parish—Belle Chasse2
East Rigolets LightOrleans Parish—Pearlington4
Trinity Shoal LightVermilion Parish—Abbeville2
Milneberg LighthouseOrleans Parish—New Orleans7
Tchefuncte River Range Rear LightSaint Tammany Parish—Mandeville4
Tchefuncte River Range Front LightSaint Tammany Parish—Mandeville4
Bayou Lacombe Lighthouse (historical)Saint Tammany Parish-1 mLacombe4
Head of Passes LighthousePlaquemines Parish1 mPort Sulphur2
Head of Passes East Jetty LighthousePlaquemines Parish4 mPort Sulphur2
Oyster Bayou LighthouseTerrebonne Parish—Dulac2
South Pass LighthousePlaquemines Parish—Galliano2
Head of Passes West Jetty LighthousePlaquemines Parish—Port Sulphur2

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph lighthouses

Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.

  • During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
  • Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
  • Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
  • A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
  • Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.

Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.