Highland Light, also called Cape Cod Light, stands at 27 Highland Light Road in North Truro. The first tower was built in 1797 as the Cape's first lighthouse, and the present brick tower dates from 1857. The light holds a place in lighthouse history as the first in the nation to show a flashing light, a change made so that mariners would not confuse it with the Boston light. Erosion threatened it for generations. By 1990 the tower was less than 125 feet from the bluff edge, and in the summer of 1996 the roughly 400-ton lighthouse was moved about 450 feet back along steel tracks. The grounds are open year round, and the Highland House Museum is on the premises. Tower climbs are offered in the warmer season; an older Cape Chamber guide describes tours from April to late October, with the longest hours from late May, but schedules change, so confirm with the museum before planning a climb. The light was renamed Cape Cod Light in 1976, though locals still say Highland.
A visit is a small, memorable stop on the way to or from Provincetown. Park, walk the grounds, look at the tower and the edge of the cliff, and appreciate how close the sea has come. The view across the Atlantic is wide, and on a clear day it is worth stepping to the bluff, within the barriers, to see the long line of beach below. The Highland House Museum is on the grounds, and a lightkeeper's shop opens in the warmer months.
Climbing the tower is the highlight, but it is a seasonal activity. The same guide describes a climb of 69 steps and a view that can reach 20 miles on a clear day. If you are visiting between November and spring, treat it as a grounds and exterior visit: the tower is visible from the road, the grounds are open and the walk is short. If you want the interior, plan a late spring, summer or early autumn trip and check opening times in advance.
Good to know
The bluff is eroding and the surf below is powerful, so stay behind the barriers and keep children close. Pair it with the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, the National Seashore beaches nearby or the Wellfleet Bay sanctuary. A visit takes under an hour unless you add the museum and tower, and the stop fits neatly into a drive along Route 6 on the Outer Cape.
Planning the stop
Highland Light is easy to combine with other Outer Cape visits because it lies close to Route 6 and the Truro and Provincetown stretch. A good order is the lighthouse in the late morning, lunch in Provincetown, and the Pilgrim Monument in the afternoon, which gives you the Cape's two best-known historic landmarks in one day.
Photographers should note that the tower looks best in clear light, and the open grounds make it easy to find an angle. Because tower access and museum hours are seasonal, treat the climb as a bonus and let the grounds and the story of the 1996 move carry the visit if you arrive outside the season.
What to expect
The experience
A visit to the lighthouse grounds and bluff, with seasonal tower climbs and the Highland House Museum.
Best time
Late spring to October for tower climbs; any clear day for the grounds and the view.
How long
Under an hour for the grounds, up to two hours with the museum and a tower climb.
Tips
Stay behind the barriers at the eroding bluff. Confirm tower and museum hours in advance, as they change by season.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A short historic stop with a big view on the Outer Cape.
- Families
- Children enjoy the tower and the story of the moved lighthouse; keep them well back from the bluff.
- Couples
- A clear-day or sunset visit before dinner in Provincetown.
- Pair with
- The Pilgrim Monument, National Seashore beaches and Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Time needed
- Allow an hour, more with a climb and the museum.
Good questions
Is Highland Light open in November?+
The grounds are open year round, so you can see the tower and the bluff. Tower climbs and the museum are seasonal, so confirm before you visit.
When was it built?+
The first tower was built in 1797, and the present brick tower dates from 1857. It was the first lighthouse in the nation with a flashing light.
Why was the lighthouse moved?+
Erosion brought the tower to within 125 feet of the bluff edge, so in summer 1996 it was moved about 450 feet back on steel tracks.
Can I climb it?+
Tower climbs are offered in the warmer months. An older Cape guide describes 69 steps and a view of up to 20 miles on a clear day, but confirm current dates.
Is the bluff safe?+
Stay behind the barriers. The bluff is eroding and the surf below is powerful, so keep children close.
