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Lighthouses in Washington

57 lighthouses in Washington with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. San Juan County has the most (9). The darkest skies are at Cape Flattery Light (Bortle 2).

Top lighthouses

Cattle Point LightLighthouse
Cattle Point LightSan Juan County
Browns Point LightLighthouse
Browns Point LightPierce County
Alki Point LightLighthouse
Alki Point LightKing County
Point Wilson LightLighthouse
Point Wilson LightJefferson County
West Point LightLighthouse
West Point LightKing County
Cape Flattery LightLighthouse
Cape Flattery LightClallam County
Cape Disappointment LightLighthouse
Cape Disappointment LightPacific County
Mukilteo LightLighthouse
Mukilteo LightSnohomish County
Grays Harbor LightLighthouse
Grays Harbor LightGrays Harbor County
New Dungeness LightLighthouse
New Dungeness LightClallam County
North Head LightLighthouse
North Head LightPacific County
Patos Island LighthouseLighthouse
Patos Island LighthouseSan Juan County

Lighthouses by county

All lighthouses (57)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Cattle Point LightSan Juan IslandSan Juan County20 mFriday Harbor3
Browns Point LightPierce County4 mBrowns Point7
Alki Point LightKing County3 mSeattle7
Point Wilson LightJefferson County3 mPort Townsend5
West Point LightKing County2 mGreenwood7
Cape Flattery LightClallam County—Forks2
Cape Disappointment LightPacific County38 mLong Beach3
Mukilteo LightSnohomish County3 mMukilteo7
Grays Harbor LightGrays Harbor County7 mWestport3
New Dungeness LightClallam County3 mSequim3
North Head LightPacific County14 mLong Beach3
Patos Island LighthouseSan Juan County5 mBirch Bay3
Marrowstone Point LightJefferson County2 mPort Townsend5
Point No Point LightKitsap County1 mHansville5
Burrows Island LightSkagit County9 mAnacortes4
Destruction Island LightJefferson County19 mForks2
Slip Point LightClallam County1 mForks2
Smith Island LightIsland County18 mAult Field4
Lime Kiln LightSan Juan County—Friday Harbor3
Point Roberts LightWhatcom County3 mPoint Roberts2
Turn Point LightSan Juan County—Friday Harbor3
Admiralty Head LightIsland County—Coupeville4
Ediz Hook LightClallam County—Port Angeles6
Point Robinson LightKing County—Des Moines7
Dofflemyer Point LightThurston County—Olympia5
Willapa Bay LightPacific County—Westport3
Semiahmoo Harbor LightWhatcom County—Blaine5
Clover Island LightBenton County—Kennewick8
Skunk Bay LighthouseKitsap County—Hansville5
Bush Point LightIsland County—Freeland4
Apple Cove Point LightKitsap County-24 mKingston6
Bush Point LightIsland County2 mFreeland4
Dash Point LighthousePierce County2 mBrowns Point7
Ediz Hook Lighthouse (historical)Clallam County1 mPort Angeles6
McDermott Point LighthousePierce County2 mLongbranch5
Point Monroe Light (historical)Kitsap County1 mSuquamish6
Point Hudson LighthouseJefferson County2 mPort Townsend5
Point Partridge LighthouseIsland County14 mCoupeville4
Pole Pass LightSan Juan County5 mFriday Harbor3
Robinson Point LighthouseKing County5 mDes Moines7
Admirality Head LightIsland County36 mCoupeville4
Waadah Island LightClallam County6 mForks2
Lopez Pass Light 2San Juan County1 mAnacortes3
Port Crescent Light (historical)Clallam County1 mPort Angeles3
Baadah Point Light (historical)Clallam County18 mForks2
Blakely Rock LightKitsap County—Bainbridge Island7
Colvos Rocks LightJefferson County—Port Ludlow5
Davidson Rock LightSan Juan County—Ault Field4
Duwamish LightKing County—Seattle7
Wasp Passage LightSan Juan County—Friday Harbor3
Willapa Bay Lighthouse (historical)Pacific County—Westport3
Lighthouse Marine Park Boat LaunchWhatcom County—Point Roberts2
Semiahmoo Bay Light—Blaine5
Puffin Island Light—Marietta3
Puget Island LightWahkiakum County—Clatskanie3
Port Townsend Boat Haven Light (historical)Jefferson County—Port Townsend5
Obstruction Pass LightSan Juan County—Anacortes3

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.