Langara Light

Langara Light is a hexagonal concrete lighthouse tower with buttress supports standing on Langara Island in the remote North Coast region. Three keeper houses sit near the tower and reflect the residential setup needed to maintain this navigation aid in such an isolated location.

Built in 1913, this lighthouse marked a critical passage for ships heading to Prince Rupert, the western end of a major continental railway. The structure represented an important navigation upgrade for one of the most challenging coastal routes in western Canada.

The lighthouse carries the name of a Spanish admiral, reflecting the colonial exploration history of this remote corner of Canada. The keeper's houses nearby show how isolated and self-contained this outpost had to be during its operational years.

Visitors can only reach the island by helicopter from nearby Masset, so plan your visit around available flight times. Bring rain gear and warm layers, as weather on this ocean-exposed location changes rapidly and can be quite harsh.

The light installation features an early Fresnel lens of impressive proportions, an optical marvel that could warn ships across vast distances with its beam. This type of lens was the most advanced navigation tool available at sea during that era.