The Cutest Lighthouse in Maine: Bug Light aka Portland Breakwater

We make it a point to visit every lighthouse we can, even when they are small and seemingly overlooked, like the Bug Light in Portland, Maine. Also known as the Portland Breakwater Light, the Bug Light is one of the prettiest, most detailed lighthouses in Maine. Located near the Spring Ledge Lighthouse, the Bug Light is cute, quaint and the perfect spot to visit on a beautiful Portland afternoon, including when things are chilly out. It’s such a cute spot that once I even was asked to photograph the sweetest proposal here at the tiny Bug Light.

If you’re a runner, you may be looking for a good route when you’re visiting Portland. May I recommend starting from downtown and running to the Bug Light / Portland Breakwater Light and back? You can also drive here easily. We’ve got tips for visiting this wonderful little lighthouse in Portland as well as recommendations for more sightseeing in town. If you have any questions about this or other lighthouses or things to do in Portland, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!

Highlights of Visiting Portland Bug Light

While the Bug Light in Portland Harbor isn’t the largest or most dramatic of the lighthouses in Maine, it’s one of the most unique and easiest to visit. Set at the end of a short breakwater, this small light station has been kept up very well and is a beautiful spot to visit and hang out. Arriving at the park, there are some walking paths going different directions, benches along the water, and even some public art installations.

The real highlight though is the tiny Bug Light itself. There are a few exhibits leading up to it explaining its history at the joining of the Portland Harbor and Casco Bay. Built in 1875, today’s version of Bug Light is a little different from its original style and placement. It didn’t always have a breakwater path to get out to it, and it’s fancy finishes have changed over the years. What you see today is 150 years of small updates and layers of white paint to maintain the Bug Light’s usability and charm. It’s build of iron and brick, so being located in Portland Harbor where the storms and salt water continually beat up on it, it’s got the be well taken care of to continue to stand the test of time.

Tips for a Portland Lighthouse Day

Visit the Portland Breakwater Light aka Bug Light as a part of a lighthouse afternoon. Make a self guided tour for yourself by visiting four lighthouses in one afternoon. Start here at the Bug Light, then drive a few minutes to the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse (a really cool one) and then onto the famous Portland Head Lighthouse (Maine’s oldest lighthouse, commissioned by George Washington), and then finish with the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse at Two Lights State Park. Each is very different and doing this plan will give you the opportunity to enjoy South Portland and its beautiful neighborhoods, all the way down to Cape Elizabeth in just an afternoon.

And not that I’m encouraging it, but another idea for visiting Bug Light, since it’s set in such a pretty spot and it’s quaint and cute, is to use it as a backdrop for a marriage proposal. We’ve seen two proposals happen here, and one I was even asked to photograph. It’s definitely a unique spot and if you’re a lighthouse lover or just are enamored by Maine, this is a wonderful spot to make a grand gesture. Again though, I’m not saying to just propose all willy-nilly, but confessing your love on a rocky ledge with a Victorian era lighthouse and wave crashing around you is pretty epic and perfectly Maine.

Being Prepared for Bug Light and Other Lighthouses

When you’re visiting the Bug Light and the other lighthouses of South Portland, always dress for the weather. In the summer it’s usually beautiful, but the random storms can roll in. Bug Light isn’t far from where you’ll park your car, but if you’re visiting the other three lighthouses we suggest, you’ll have a bit of walking to do. While an umbrella doesn’t do a ton of good on a windy day, if it’s just a little wet a raincoat is always a good idea.

When you’re visiting Bug Light, Spring Ledge Light or the Portland Head Lighthouse, I do recommend bringing a good camera. It’s interesting to visit these lighthouses because you can see multiple other lighthouses from each of them. A telephoto lens is great for getting shots of these three lights as well as two others off in the distance: the Ram Island Ledge Light and the Halfway Rock Lighthouse, both of which are far out in Casco Bay. I think all of these historic, maritime structures are just so cool and really make visiting Maine extra special.

Getting to Bug Light aka Portland Breakwater Lighthouse

Getting to the Bug Light aka Portland Breakwater Lighthouse is easy. When you leave downtown Portland, head south and cross the bridge. You’ll continue through a beautiful old neighborhood where you MUST STOP at Cape Whoopies for whoopie pies to get you through your day, and then to Bug Light Park. There’s lots of parking and then you’ll have a short walk to the lighthouse. if you want, you can actually park here, visit the Bug Light and then walk along the water (there’s a path) over to Fort Preble to the Spring Point Ledge Light. It’s about a 20 minute walk. This is, together with the other lighthouses, a great afternoon plan for enjoying the area of South Portland.