Skip to content

Cape Ann Light (Twin Lights)

Cape Ann Light (Twin Lights), seen from above at true elevation

Cape Ann Light (Twin Lights) is a lighthouse in Massachusetts, at a modelled elevation of 10 m. Mount Ann stands 78 m to the west-southwest, 8.1 miles off. The nearest named place is Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge, a nature reserve less than a tenth of a mile away. Essex Coastal Scenic Byway passes 5.5 miles off.

The original first-order Fresnel lens in the North Tower has been destroyed. Only pieces remain at the Sandy Bay Historical Society and at the brick assistant keepers dwelling.

The story

lighthouse in Massachusetts, United States

Dates from 1771.

Wikidata Q5034568, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

What the record says

Built
1861
Height
37.8 m

What to expect

Official site

How to reach it

Coordinates42.63915, -70.57482

Overlooks nearby

Named places within 25 miles

Nature reserves
Beaches
Peaks
  • High Rock: 1.9 mi
  • Great Hill: 2.9 mi
  • Nugent Boulders: 3.3 mi
  • Pool Hill: 3.3 mi
  • Pigeon Hill: 3.6 mi
Parks
  • Old Garden Beach: 2.2 mi
  • The Headlands: 2.3 mi
  • Star Island Park: 2.4 mi
  • Harvey Park: 2.5 mi
  • Barletta Park: 2.5 mi
Attractions
  • Motif #1: 2.5 mi
  • Peter's Pulpit: 3.8 mi
  • Whale's Jaw: 3.8 mi
  • The Paper House: 3.8 mi
  • Prosperity Follows Service: 3.9 mi
Historic sites
Museums: 55
Gardens: 42
  • Cold Frames: 10.8 mi
  • Formal Garden: 10.9 mi
  • Rose Garden: 11.0 mi
  • Bushee Garden: 16.5 mi
  • Salem Community Gardens: 18.1 mi
Artworks: 36
Cliffs: 17
Lighthouses: 13
Springs: 2
  • Rail Spring: 17.4 mi
  • Lion's Spring: 24.8 mi
Waterfalls: 2
Rest areas: 2
Ghost towns: 1

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 14.4 miles of Cape Ann Light (Twin Lights). Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Mount AnnWSW 256°78 m8.1 mi
Red RockWSW 259°70 m7.9 mi
Pool HillWNW 292°66 m3.3 mi
Morse HillWSW 255°62 m9.7 mi
Pigeon HillNW 310°61 m3.6 mi
Browns HillW 263°61 m13.9 mi
Long HillWSW 247°60 m9.2 mi
Eveleth HillW 266°57 m11.9 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:4718:1718:55
June solstice05:0519:4120:24
September equinox06:3018:0418:42
December solstice07:1015:2716:12

Local time (America/New_York).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F272835455564706962514133
Precip in3.73.64.64.23.54.03.43.43.85.04.04.8

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Beverly, 14 mi away.

Mean tidal range 8.7 ft at the nearest NOAA station.

NOAA CO-OPS station Rockport, MA, 2 miaway — today’s predictions live there.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

National Register of Historic Places, reference 71000355OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOfficial site

OpenStreetMap element way/713671588

More lighthouses in Massachusetts

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Cape Ann Light (Twin Lights).

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens