Friends of Rock Island State Park, Inc.

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Washington Island, WI
Friends of Rock Island State Park, Inc.

Our mission is to support the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in operating and maintaining Rock Island State Park

Mailing Address: 1924 Indian Point Road Washington Island, WI 54246

06/18/2026

Happening this week on 📍 Rock Island State Park ⬇️
Snakes, pelicans, nature journaling and more! 🐍🪿🌿

06/17/2026

Ever wondered what it would be like to spend a day as a lighthouse keeper on Rock Island? Here’s a glimpse into a typical day on the island! 🌤️

Curious about volunteering with FORI? Learn more about what we do and how to get involved here: https://fori.squarespace.com/

(Yes, you can apply to be a volunteer to spend a week at Wisconsin's oldest lighthouse, 😍)

06/13/2026

Whether you know a little about Chester Thordarson and his history on Rock Island, or are well-versed, this article from the archives of Voyageur Magazine is a great refresher:https://washingtonisland.com/wp-content/uploads/archive_22_1_rockisland.pdf

Published twice a year since 1984, Voyageur is a nonprofit magazine dedicated to preserving the history of a 26-county area of greater Northeast Wisconsin.

06/11/2026

Planning a trip to Rock Island this season? Pack smart — the weather can change fast out on the island! 🌦️

Here are some quick insights to keep in mind:
🌧️ June is typically the wettest month, with average highs around 71°F
🌞 July is the warmest, averaging 76°F/56°F, followed closely by August at 75°F/55°F
🌦️ Because Rock Island sits out in Lake Michigan, expect breezy conditions, higher humidity and the occasional quick rain shower. Better to pack layers than be caught unprepared.

06/10/2026

A great way to start or end your trip to Rock Island! 🍲 Jackson Harbor Soup & Sandwiches is a neighbor to the parking lot where you board the ferry, and diners can watch the Karfi come and go. 😎

06/09/2026

We are excited to share that Rock Island State Park will again have a naturalist for the 2026 season! See the schedule for our first weekend of programming with Gretchen, beginning June 12th. 📆

For more information email [email protected] or call (920) 847-2235.

06/07/2026

Did you know? 🧐 The passenger ferry to Rock Island is titled Karfi because the name means "seaworthy for coastal journeys" in Icelandic - a nod to Chester Thordarson's Icelandic heritage.

Find all the travel information for the Karfi here: https://wisferry.com/rock-island/

Here are a few helpful tips:
🚙 Parking at the lot to depart to Rock Island is free - no park sticker required
🎟 Combination ferry tickets for both the Washington Island ferry and Karfi are available from Northport (credit cards accepted) - tickets purchased at Jackson Harbor are cash only
👉 Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and schedules are subject to change due to the weather
🚣‍♀️ Bicycles are not allowed to Rock Island but you can bring your own foldable carts for transporting camping gear - there are also FORI carts available on the island for this purpose
See all the FAQs here: https://wisferry.com/faq

06/04/2026

One month from today: Celebrate the 4th of July on Rock Island with a day full of fun, food and island adventure! 🇺🇸

🌭 The annual Friends of Rock Island fundraiser is 11 am to 3 pm inside and around the Boathouse, featuring a brat fry, silent auction, merchandise sale, Trivia Trail hike, and kids’ activities to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary.

⛱ Make a day of it by hiking scenic trails, swimming, touring the Lighthouse Museum, and enjoying all the unique experiences Rock Island has to offer. Every dollar raised supports the Friends of Rock Island in helping the DNR operate and maintain the park.

Can’t attend? Show your support by becoming a member!
Annual memberships start at $15: https://fori.squarespace.com/

Photo credit: Karyn Tylicki

06/02/2026

Here are 5 things you might not know about Rock Island State Park!

🚫 There's no cars or bicycles allowed on Rock Island. But don't fear - the are plenty of wagons to help transport gear and firewood.

💡It’s home to the iconic Pottawatomie Lighthouse — Wisconsin’s oldest lighthouse — and there are tours all season.

🏖️The island has stunning limestone bluffs, shoreline views and 10 miles of hiking trails.

🔨 Rock Island is famous for its history with Chester Thordarson, an Icelandic-American inventor who built the many beautiful stone buildings while he owned it from 1910 to 1965.

🦉Apart from the stone buildings, the park feels wild and remote, but it is only a 10 minute ferry ride from Jackson Harbor on Washington Island.

What do you love most about Rock Island?

05/29/2026

The season is underway, which means our spring cleaning and high-season preparation has concluded! 🛠️

Friends of Rock Island (FORI) is the organizing group behind the two three-day spring weekends in May spent on Rock Island in partnership with the Wisconsin DNR to get the island in tip-top shape for a season of visitors, campers, camp hosts and lighthouse docents.

Board Members, families and volunteers meet each day 9am to 4pm to help open the buildings, clean, set up supplies, organize merchandise stores, and prepare the Camp Host Cabin, Boathouse and Lighthouse Museum for the 2026 season.

It’s no small task and this year we had 50+ hardy handy people on site to put in the work. Thank you to all those who lent a hand! 👏

Interested in joining us? Learn more here: https://fori.squarespace.com/

Address

1924 Indian Point Road
Washington Island, WI
54246

Telephone

+17155705734

Website

https://fori.squarespace.com/

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