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LandmarkWashington HeightsHudson Heights

Little Red Lighthouse

A charming riverside stop for the walk or bike ride below the bridge, but go for the setting, since interior access is limited.

Fort Washington Park, Jeffrey's HookHudson River Greenway at the George Washington Bridge

The red Little Red Lighthouse (Jeffrey's Hook Light) on rocks beside the Hudson River in Fort Washington Park, with a George Washington Bridge tower behind it.
Billie Grace Ward (opens in a new tab)CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab)
The Little Red Lighthouse beneath the George Washington Bridge on the Hudson River
Beyond My Ken (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
The George Washington Bridge and the Little Red Lighthouse seen from the north
Jay Dobkin (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
The entrance door of the Little Red Lighthouse
Uptownphototaker (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
Inside the Little Red Lighthouse
Pavla.havirova (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
A park ranger leading a tour at the Little Red Lighthouse
Beyond My Ken (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

What it is

The Little Red Lighthouse stands in Fort Washington Park beneath the George Washington Bridge. Wikipedia says it was built in 1917 at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, then moved to the Hudson River in the 1920s, and that it became obsolete after the bridge opened in 1931. After public outcry, helped by the children’s book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, it was given to the city in 1951.

Who it’s for

Walkers, cyclists, and families, and anyone who knows the book. It is on the Hudson River Greenway side of the neighborhood, below Hudson Heights.

Standout details

For 2026, event listings from the Parks Department and local sources show interior tours only during the Little Red Lighthouse Festival on October 3, with free timed tickets handed out on site; that date has passed. The lighthouse is also honored in an annual festival, per Wikipedia.

Honest verdict

A pleasing short destination with a good story, especially combined with a greenway walk. Interior access is only on special days, so treat it as an outdoor landmark. Gate hours and path conditions were not checked for this listing, so check NYC Parks before going.