The Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse is a national historic site and the tallest lighthouse in Canada, a white tower on the rocky headland of the north side of Forillon National Park. Visitors can walk the grounds, take a guided tour that goes to the top of the tower, watch two documentaries on the lighthouse, enjoy views over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Cap-Bon-Ami and the Forillon mountains, and picnic on the site. In summer there are free concerts on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The documentaries are in French only, so ask on arrival whether the guided tour is offered in English. The only schedule published on the tourism page read was for 1 July to 31 August 2025, when it opened daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and no 2026 dates were shown, so treat it as a July and August site and confirm other weeks. On that page, site access cost about $5 for an adult and for a child aged 6 to 17, a version with a virtual tablet visit cost about $9 and $6, and a package with the guided tour and climb cost about $15 and $10, with children under 5 free. Those are last-published rates and may change. It is closed now.
What to do
Take the guided tour and climb, which lasts about 45 minutes, for the view from the top, then walk the grounds and the shore. The shop sells local products, and the site is pet-friendly and has WiFi. Bring a windproof layer even in July, because the headland is exposed.
Seasons and planning
This is a summer attraction. The published schedule covered 1 July to 31 August, and a winter or November visit is limited to looking at the tower from the road, which is a fine photograph in any season but not a visit. Check the dates for the next season before you plan around it, and expect to buy tickets on site. Because the tour includes a climb, it is not suited to everyone, so ask about access if you have mobility needs.
Fitting it in
The lighthouse is at Cap-des-Rosiers, by the north entrance to Forillon, so it fits naturally with a day in the park. Allow an hour on the site, and combine it with a drive to Cap-Bon-Ami. From Gaspé town it is a drive of some distance, so most visitors do it as part of a Forillon day rather than as a separate trip. If you are staying in Percé, give it a separate morning, because the road between the two is long.
What to expect
The experience
A guided tour to the top of the tower, a self-guided site visit and a film in the visitor building.
Best time
July and August, the only period on the last published schedule; the site is closed in November.
How long
Allow one to two hours including the roughly 45-minute guided tour.
Tips
Confirm the dates for next season, ask about tours in English and wear a windproof layer on the headland.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Lighthouse and history fans, and anyone who wants a view over the gulf from the top of Canada's tallest tower.
- Families
- The climb suits older children, and there is a picnic area and a shop on the grounds.
- Couples
- Time the visit for a summer evening concert, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Pair with
- Forillon National Park, Cap-Bon-Ami and a night in Gaspé.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
Is the Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse open now?+
No. The only schedule published was for 1 July to 31 August 2025, and it is a summer site. Confirm the dates for 2027 before planning a visit.
How tall is it?+
The tourism page describes it as Canada's tallest lighthouse. The guided tour goes to the top and lasts about 45 minutes.
How much does it cost?+
On the last published schedule, site access was about $5 for adults and children aged 6 to 17, and the guided tour with the climb was about $15 and $10. Children under 5 were free, and rates may have changed.
Are the films in English?+
The two documentaries are in French only. Ask on arrival about guided tours in English.
Is there anything to do nearby?+
The lighthouse is by the north entrance to Forillon National Park, with Cap-Bon-Ami and the coastal trails close by in season.
