Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites sit side by side on a point of land on the west side of Esquimalt Harbour, at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Road in the Victoria area, and together they tell the story of how the British and then Canadian navies defended the coast. Fort Rodd Hill was a west coast artillery fortress on active duty from 1895 to 1956, and its guns, magazines and barracks sit among the trees and rocky shore. Fisgard Lighthouse, on the shore beside the fort, is described by Parks Canada as the oldest lighthouse on Canada's west coast, and visitors can step inside when it is open. The grounds also include the Garry Oak Learning Meadow, which protects native wildflowers in one of the rarest ecosystems in the country, and an immersive programme in which visitors learn about and fire the Victorian-era 13-pounder rifled muzzle-loading field gun. Self-guided options and scheduled presentations are on offer, including an audio tour and digital guided tours. It is a good choice for families, history lovers and anyone who wants a quieter, outdoor heritage site away from the downtown museums, and it sits on a stretch of shoreline with open views of the water.
Seasons and hours
From 16 October to 30 April, the site is open from 10am to 4pm, and the Fisgard Lighthouse and historic buildings are open on Saturdays and Sundays only, while the grounds and washrooms are open seven days a week. From 1 May to 15 October, hours are 10am to 5pm, with the lighthouse and historic buildings open every day.
That means a weekday visit in the colder months is a grounds walk only, so plan a weekend if you want to go inside. Youth admission is free, and other fees are on the Parks Canada fees page, so check current rates before you go.
Current access
Parks Canada has posted a notice about transportation and parking improvements, with temporary access restrictions and occasional closures, and the notice gave an end date of 1 October 2026, though the page has been updated since then, so the notice may be out of date. Closure notices are posted at least 48 hours ahead where possible, on the site's Facebook page.
Phone or email the site before you travel to confirm that access and parking are normal, especially if you are driving from downtown. The site has no accessibility information on the main page, so contact the staff if anyone in your group has mobility needs, since the grounds include uneven ground and slopes.
Making it count
Allow two to three hours to walk the grounds, enter the lighthouse and read the displays, and bring a jacket, since the shoreline is breezy. The site pairs well with a harbour cruise, which heads toward the lighthouse from the Inner Harbour, and with a day of other attractions in the west shore area. Children enjoy the guns and the open space, and the field gun programme is a highlight for those who like hands-on history, though check when it is scheduled.
The site also offers oTENTik camping inside the fort grounds, for travellers who want to spend a night under the stars beside the lighthouse. If you prefer a downtown history stop, the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle are alternatives, but nothing else in the region combines coastal defence, a working-style lighthouse and a native wildflower meadow in one visit.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to a coastal artillery fort and the Fisgard Lighthouse, with an audio tour, a Garry oak meadow and a historic field gun programme.
Best time
A weekend from mid-October to April if you want to enter the lighthouse, or any day from May to mid-October.
How long
Two to three hours for the grounds, the lighthouse and the displays.
Tips
Phone ahead to check access and parking, dress for wind, and plan a weekend in winter to see the lighthouse inside.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History lovers, families and anyone who wants a quiet outdoor heritage site.
- Families
- Children enjoy the guns and the open space, and youth admission is free.
- Couples
- A scenic shoreline visit with views of the lighthouse and the water.
- Pair with
- A harbour cruise past the lighthouse, or a Royal BC Museum visit.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive from downtown.
Good questions
Where are Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse?+
They are at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Road, on the west side of Esquimalt Harbour in the Victoria area.
When is Fisgard Lighthouse open?+
From 16 October to 30 April the lighthouse and historic buildings are open on Saturdays and Sundays only, and from 1 May to 15 October they are open every day.
How much does it cost?+
Youth admission is free, and other fees are on the Parks Canada fees page, so check current rates before you go.
Is there any current access disruption?+
A notice about transportation and parking works with temporary restrictions was posted, so phone or email the site to confirm access before you visit.
What is there to see?+
You can explore the fort, step inside the lighthouse, walk the Garry Oak Learning Meadow and join the field gun programme or an audio tour.
