The Cape Neddick Light, known to everyone as the Nubble, is a small white lighthouse with a red-roofed keeper house that sits on a rocky island barely a stone throw from the mainland in York, about fifteen minutes south of Ogunquit. The light was built in the late nineteenth century and is among the best-known lighthouses on the East Coast, a favorite of painters and photographers. You cannot visit the island itself, since it is a working station, but Sohier Park on the mainland offers a close view across a narrow channel of churning water. The scene is compact and perfect: the tower, the house, the outbuildings, the surf and the sky. Many visitors say it is smaller than they imagined and more beautiful than the photographs.
Visiting Sohier Park
The park is a small town-owned area at the end of a road on the cape, with free parking, benches, rocks to sit on and a seasonal visitor building. There is no entry fee. The lot can fill quickly on summer evenings and on sunny weekends, so arrive early or late. Dogs and children are welcome on leash and under supervision, but the rocks are slippery and surf can be dangerous, so keep back from the water.
Best times
The lighthouse photographs well at any hour. Sunrise gives soft pink light on the tower. Late afternoon turns the white paint warm, and evening brings the beam as it switches on at dusk. Storms and high seas produce dramatic spray, but be cautious. Fog can hide the structure entirely, and that is part of the mood on the Maine coast. In winter, the park is open and nearly empty, and the light shines on bare rocks and gray water.
History and facts
The station has been automated for decades, and the keeper house is not open to visitors. A local nonprofit works to preserve the light and tells its story on a visitor information site, and a small gift shop in season sells souvenirs. The Nubble has been featured on stamps, calendars and countless postcards, and it has traveled into space in a way, since an image of it was included on a probe.
A seasonal lighting ceremony takes place around the holiday period, when the station is decorated, so check community calendars if you plan a winter visit.
Around the area
York Beach and Long Sands are close, with food, arcades and candy shops. Cape Neddick has a few restaurants and a quiet village feel. If you have a car, combine the Nubble with a stroll at Short Sands and a lobster roll nearby. Without a car, the regional bus service may connect you to York, though the park itself is a short distance off the main road.
Who it suits
Photographers, families, couples and lighthouse enthusiasts. It is one of the easiest and most rewarding short excursions from Ogunquit. Allow an hour, a bit more at sunset, and bring a jacket and a camera with a decent zoom.
What to expect
The experience
A roadside park with a close view of a lighthouse on a small island across a channel.
Best time
Sunrise, late afternoon and dusk.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Arrive early for parking; keep off wet rocks.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Photographers and lighthouse fans.
- Families
- Easy for children, with rocks to supervise closely.
- Couples
- Sunset views with a drive down the coast.
- Pair with
- York Beach and a lobster roll.
- Time needed
- One hour.
Good questions
Can I go onto the island?+
No. It is an active station. You view it from Sohier Park.
Is there an admission fee?+
No. The park is free.
How far is it from Ogunquit?+
About fifteen minutes by car, depending on traffic.
When is the best light?+
Sunrise and late afternoon, with the beam at dusk.
Is it open in winter?+
The park is accessible all year, though the visitor building is seasonal.