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Lighthouses in Minnesota

8 lighthouses in Minnesota with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Saint Louis County has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Grand Marais Light (Bortle 1).

Top lighthouses

Split Rock LighthouseLighthouse
Split Rock LighthouseLake County
Two Harbors LighthouseLighthouse
Two Harbors LighthouseLake County
Duluth Harbor North Pier LightLighthouse
Duluth Harbor North Pier LightSaint Louis County
Duluth South Breakwater Inner LightLighthouse
Duluth South Breakwater Inner LightSaint Louis County
Duluth South Breakwater Outer LightLighthouse
Duluth South Breakwater Outer LightSaint Louis County
Minnesota Point LightLighthouse
Minnesota Point LightSaint Louis County
Two Harbors Breakwater LightLighthouse
Two Harbors Breakwater LightLake County
Lighthouse
Grand Marais LightCook County

Lighthouses by county

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.