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Lighthouses in New Hampshire

6 lighthouses in New Hampshire with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Rockingham County has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Herrick Cove Lighthouse (Bortle 4).

Top lighthouses

Isles of Shoals LightLighthouse
Isles of Shoals LightRockingham County
Portsmouth Harbor LightLighthouse
Portsmouth Harbor LightRockingham County
Lighthouse
Herrick Cove LighthouseMerrimack County
Lighthouse
Loon Island LighthouseSullivan County
Lighthouse
Fort Point LightRockingham County
Lighthouse
Isle of Shoals LighthouseRockingham 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.