The 26th Lighthouse Challenge

The 2025 Lighthouse Challenge will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 18th & 19th.

We have some exciting news...we're adding another stop on the Challenge: Spermaceti Cove Life Saving Station. It won't take you out of your way since it's located just south of Sandy Hook Lighthouse in the Gateway National Recreation Area. Spermaceti Cove is also the site of the gift shop for the lifesaving station and the lighthouse, so you can do some shopping when you stop.

Our logo for 2025 is on the left. The reason for the lighthouse in the four seasons? Because the souvenir for this year's Challenge is a 16 month calendar with a beautiful color picture of one of the sites for each month. We hope you like it.

Finally, a Real Map

For those of you who like to look at maps, us included, here's a map of the sites on the Challenge. You can view it in Google Maps using this link:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1TyUOEMQIjL-ykfTkqWgvui6A9HxO6yA&ll=39.69419276297427%2C-74.75912584999999&z=9

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at lhchallengenj@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

When is the Lighthouse Challenge?

The Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey is always the third full weekend in October.

How do I register for the Challenge?

There is no pre-registration. You register at the site where you start and you can start at any of the sites. It only takes a few minutes. We ask for your home state and how many are in your party. And then, of course, we collect your registration fee.

What does it cost to do the Challenge?

The cost is $10 to register. For that, you'll get your souvenir holder, this year a 16 month calendar with full color pictures of all the sites on the Challenge. At each stop, you'll collect a thumbnail stamp that goes on the back of the calendar. Collect them all to complete the Challenge.. There is no other cost unless you decide to climb the lighthouses. Some of the lighthouses do charge a fee to climb. (Children 11 and under are free to climb with an adult.)

Do I have to climb every lighthouse to complete the Challenge?

No, climbing is not required. You just have to visit each site. Good for you if you do manage to do that though!

How do you do the Challenge?

The object is to visit all the sites on the Challenge. There 11 lighthouse sites, 4 lifesaving stations, and 1 museum. It adds up to 16 sites but only 15 stops since one stop has two lighthouse sites. You have from 8 am on Saturday until 6 pm on Sunday to complete the Challenge. Sites are open from 8 am to 6 pm both days, with three sites offering night climbs from 6 to 8 pm on Saturday only. You can start and finish at any of the sites, so you can plan your own route. There is a list of places to stay and places to eat along the way under the Eat & Stay tab in case you decide to stay over Saturday night (or Friday night so you can get an early start).

What happens if I complete the Challenge?

If you complete that Challenge, at your last stop, let them know that you've completed. They will check to see if you've visited all the sites. You'll receive a completion sticker and your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize basket filled with lighthouse goodies. There are 3 prizes with the grand prize worth more than $500.

unfortunately inflation got us too

We're so sorry...

For the last two years, the registration fee that we've been charging hasn't been enough to cover the cost of the books, stickers, postcards or whatever is the Challenge souvenir that we give away. We obviously can't keep operating in the red so unfortunately we have to raise the registration fee to $10 this year. In case you're wondering, all the sales of t-shirts, pins and any donations that you make at each site are kept by that lighthouse or lifesaving station. The Lighthouse Keepers who coordinate the Challenge and produce the souvenir for that year only get the registration fees. We hope you understand our plight and don't mind paying the additional fee. We think it's still a great bargain for a weekend of fun.

The 26th Lighthouse Challenge

Finally, a Real Map

Frequently Asked Questions

unfortunately inflation got us too

We're so sorry...

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