Ontario's oldest standing lighthouse, built in 1808, surrounded by island wilderness. There's a murder mystery attached. The walk to reach it through the islands' quiet trails makes it feel like another world.
Neighbourhood: Toronto Islands · Address: Centre Island, Toronto Islands · Hours: Ferry required — seasonal access
Why Visit
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is the oldest in Ontario and takes effort to reach, rewarding you with eerie island silence and a murder story no guidebook tells properly.
What Makes It Unique
Most Toronto landmarks are surrounded by crowds; Gibraltar Point stands abandoned in island woods, worlds away from a downtown ferry ride. Unlike other lighthouses, there's no road, no busy park, just trails and trees—and a 200-year-old mystery about its first keeper's death.
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse stands at the southwest tip of Centre Island in the Toronto Islands, overlooking the western gap of Toronto Harbour, and it has been standing there since 1808 — making it the oldest surviving lighthouse on the Great Lakes and one of the oldest standing structures in Toronto. The federal government built the octagonal limestone tower, 15 metres tall, to guide shipping through the harbour entrance during the early settlement period of York. The lighthouse guided ships for roughly a century before it was decommissioned in 1906; it has been a National Historic Site of Canada since 1966.
The walk to reach Gibraltar Point Lighthouse from the Centre Island ferry terminal takes approximately 25 minutes through some of the quietest, most deeply wooded sections of the Toronto Islands. The western end of Centre Island, beyond the Centreville amusement park and the tennis courts and picnic lawns, transitions into a landscape of old cottonwood trees, dense scrub, and narrow unpaved trails that feels genuinely wild — or as wild as a 10-minute ferry ride from the downtown core can feel.
The lighthouse is the site of what remains Toronto's most enduring unsolved mystery. John Paul Radelmuller, the lighthouse's first keeper, disappeared in January 1815 under circumstances that were never explained. Contemporary accounts suggested he was murdered by soldiers from the Fort York garrison who had been denied alcohol at his cottage; his body was allegedly found in a nearby field but was never identified with certainty. The lighthouse keeper's cottage is said to be haunted, and Gibraltar Point appears on every list of Toronto's reputed haunted locations.
The lighthouse is accessible during the Islands' regular operating hours via the Centre Island ferry. The walk from the ferry terminal makes Gibraltar Point best visited as part of a longer Islands excursion. Bicycle rental on the islands makes the western end much more accessible; cyclists can cover the full distance in under 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Gibraltar Point Lighthouse on the Toronto Islands?
Take the Centre Island ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street. The ferry runs year-round with seasonal schedule variations. From the Centre Island ferry dock, walk west through Centreville and continue into the wooded western end of the island. The walk takes approximately 25 minutes; bicycle rental on the islands makes the trip much faster.
Is Gibraltar Point Lighthouse open for tours?
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is a National Historic Site and the grounds around it are accessible year-round. The interior is not regularly open for public tours, though the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority occasionally organizes special access events. The exterior and surrounding landscape are always accessible during Toronto Islands operating hours.
What is the story of the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse ghost?
John Paul Radelmuller, the lighthouse's first keeper, disappeared in January 1815 under mysterious circumstances. Contemporary accounts claimed he was murdered by soldiers from Fort York who had been refused alcohol. Gibraltar Point appears on virtually every list of Toronto's reportedly haunted locations and is a popular destination for ghost tour operators.
How old is Gibraltar Point Lighthouse?
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse was completed in 1808-1809, making it approximately 215 years old. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse on the Great Lakes and one of the oldest standing structures in Toronto. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1966.