Visiting Sheffield Island Lighthouse in Norwalk, CT

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Whether you’re a local resident or a traveler seeking a unique experience, a visit to Sheffield Island Lighthouse in Norwalk, Connecticut needs to be on your list. This historic lighthouse is located at the southern tip of the Norwalk Islands and it’s only accessible by boat. On the island, you’ll be able to tour the lighthouse and explore the trails.

A historic stone lighthouse with the year 1868 above the entrance stands under a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by grass and a small tree.

How Do You Get To The Lighthouse?

The lighthouse is accessible via the Sheffield Island Lighthouse Ferry. The Sheffield Island Ferry is operated by the Norwalk Seaport Association. The trips to the island are seasonal and you can check for available dates on Eventbrite.

Sign with an illustration of a lighthouse, the year 1868, and the text "Sheffield Island Lighthouse Ferry" in bold letters, mounted on a chain-link fence.

The ferry departs from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse dock at 70 Water Street in Historic South Norwalk. There’s no parking at the dock, but there is parking nearby. We parked at a paid lot on Water Street. This lot was a short walk to the dock where the ferry departs from.

A mural on a red brick wall depicts a sailboat and the Sheffield Island Lighthouse 1868, with a woman standing in front of it in a parking lot.
A beautiful mural of Sheffield Island Lighthouse in the public lot by the dock.

The Trip Out To Sheffield Island Lighthouse

The trip to the lighthouse is a narrated tour of the Norwalk Harbor. You’ll learn a lot of interesting facts, like how the power plant along the harbor was painted blue to try and blend in with the sky to be less of an eye sore. Additionally, you’ll learn about the resort that was once on Sheffield Island. The resort closed down due to not having enough fresh water on the island. You can see the ruins of this resort while you’re on the island.

A white yacht sails near a rocky shoreline with trees; a large industrial building with a smokestack is visible in the background across the water.

During the narration, you’ll also learn the history of Norwalk’s other lighthouse, Greens Ledge Light. While the regular tour to Sheffield Island Lighthouse doesn’t take you to Greens Ledge Light, the Norwalk Seaport Association now offers a boat tour that will take you to both Sheffield Island Lighthouse and Greens Ledge Light.

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♬ Outdoors – Acoustic Guitar Chill

Arriving At The Island

When you arrive at the island, you’ll be welcomed by a sign and a great view of Sheffield Island Lighthouse. You’ll have about an hour on the island and the guide will let you know what time you need to get back to the boat to head back to mainland. There’s a lot to see on this little island.

Stone lighthouse on Sheffield Island with a sign in the foreground reading "Welcome to Sheffield Island Lighthouse, built in 1868," surrounded by grass, flowers, and gravel.

Touring the Lighthouse

Once on the island, you’ll be able to tour the historic lighthouse, which was built in 1868. There are two different times that there is a guide to take you through the lighthouse. Once inside, you’re able to tour the first two floors as a guide tells you about the history of the lighthouse and the families who lived on the island in the lighthouse.

A modest dining room with a round table covered by a rust-colored cloth, set for four, wooden chairs, a sideboard, and a window letting in natural light.
One of the rooms inside Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

During the tour, I was shocked to learn that the granite blocks used to build the lighthouse were not brought by boat. Instead, they were dragged across the frozen harbor. Winters were so cold back then that the harbor would freeze and the ice would be 15 feet thick!

Exploring the Island

After you tour the lighthouse, you can explore the island. The island isn’t that big, so you can explore a fair amount in the short time you have. We wandered along the shore and saw lots of shoreline birds! The island is a great spot for birding.

A woman in a red plaid shirt stands on a rocky shoreline with a lighthouse and several buildings in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A portion of the island is the Sheffield Island Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. There are some trails to explore that lead you to an observation deck. From the observation deck, you get water views and you can see the ruins of the old resort as well.

A woman in a white tank top and denim shorts stands on a wooden observation deck with informational signs, holding a camera, with greenery and a body of water in the background.

Speaking of the old resort, you can actually walk up to the ruins as well, if you have time. I’m a fast walker, so we made the walk to check them out. There was an osprey nest on top of one of the old ruins. Definitely worth checking out if you have the time.

Rocky shoreline with a stone gazebo structure on piers in the water, stone wall and trees on the right, under a partly cloudy sky.

Things To Do When You Get Back

South Norwalk is a beautiful historic area. When we got off of the ferry, we decided to try and find a bite to eat. We ended up going to Jeremiah Donovan’s, which was a short walk from the ferry and where we had parked. It’s housed in a beautiful historic building and there’s both indoor and outdoor seating.

A red-brick corner building with a mural depicting sailboats, outdoor seating with empty tables and chairs, and signage reading “Donovan’s” and “Est. 1889” under a partly cloudy sky.

My boyfriend and I both ended up getting sliders. These sliders were honestly SO GOOD. We enjoyed the food so much that we both agreed that we would definitely go back if we’re in the area again. The atmosphere was casual, which is what we tend to prefer when we go out.

Two small sandwiches and a serving of French fries are arranged on a white rectangular plate, with a glass of iced beverage in the background.

After, we decided to check out Milk N Cookies. This was a walkable distance from the restaurant we were at. This spot is known for cereal infused ice cream. That’s not personally my thing, so I just went with a milkshake. We also bought some cookies to bring home!

A chocolate milkshake in a clear cup with a black straw sits on a counter. Cereal dispensers are mounted on the white-tiled wall in the background.

After that, we decided to head home! If we weren’t so exhausted, I probably would have stopped at Sherwood Island State Park since it’s so close by. But, after the travel there, 3 hour boat trip, and then grabbing food, we were more than ready to make the long journey home up I-95.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Sheffield Island Lighthouse is a Connecticut lighthouse that’s worth visiting. There aren’t a ton of lighthouses in Connecticut that are accessible to the public, and that’s why I was so excited to discover this lighthouse. Most lighthouses in Connecticut you have to admire from afar. This is definitely worth a visit if you love lighthouses! I’d like to do the tour that also includes Greens Ledge Light in addition to Sheffield Island Lighthouse in the future.

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2 Comments

  1. Great advice! I lover Sheffield Island, and Norwalk has SO much to do.. the aquarium is definitely worth checking out… Donovan’s is a great option for a meal, but leave room for SoNo Baking Co treats!

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