HIGHLIGHT ON

The Friends of Rock Island State Park

Rock Island has 35 campsites and two group sites in a traditional campground setting within ¼-mile from the boat dock. Of this, 17 have a water view and there are five additional Gold Seal Award-wining backpacking sites on the opposite side of the Island from the dock.  These sites require a one-mile hike in.  There are no showers on the island but drinking water and firewood is available. 

Visiting Rock Island is a three-step process: first, visitors drive to the end of the Door County peninsula on State Hwy. 42 ending at Northport.  From here, visitors take the ferry to Washington Island where they drive across to Jackson Harbor to pick up the passenger ferry to Rock Island.  There is a contact station at the dock on Rock Island where campers check in and receive information.  It takes about an hour and a half to get from Northport to Rock Island and in July and August the Washington Island ferry runs on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Traveling by ferry is a special experience and I believe the pristine resources on Rock Island have been especially preserved through this feature,” notes Kirby Foss, Manager on the Island.  Additionally, this year, the Pottawatomie Lighthouse, located in Rock Island State Park, is turning 150. To mark this significant milestone, the Friends of Rock Island are hosting a Sesquicentennial Celebration on Saturday, May 17th during the annual Door County Lighthouse Walk.   The event is open to the general public.