My boyfriend and I went for a mini vacation in Norwalk, CT and I booked the Sunset Harbor Lighthouse Tour which we went on this past Sunday evening from 6:30-8:30, on 8/10/25. This tour was definitely a highlight of our trip! Captain John and Charlie were great and all the passengers aboard had a great time! We passed three lighthouses-Peck Ledge LH, Sheffield Island LH and Green's Ledge LH. Charlie, co-captain of Captain John, had just toured the inside of Green's Ledge LH the day before which is listed on Airbnb for $6,000! He went around the ship showing everyone the floor plan. It especially exciting to be on the Long Island Sound and to see the red and white towers from Northport, since I live on Long Island!! We were able to see several different viewpoints of the sunset and osprey nests as well. Definitely recommend to residents of Norwalk AND tourists alike! read more

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Like a lot of other dork type middle age dudes I'm a sucker for a good lighthouse. Actually I've been to a few clinkers which says that I'm apparently I'm also a sucker for a bad lighthouse as well but there's no need to worry about that at Sheffield because it's all good here. So if you want to come you've got two legal options. 1. Show up via kayak (or I suppose boat then taking a short swim) during hours when they are running tours and you will be met on the shore by a volunteer who will ask you to pay a few dollars for the privilege of taking the lighthouse tour/hanging out on the island. 2. Or, you come via the regularly scheduled boat that runs from the dock on North Water Street in Norwalk from late May until the end of September. There are various public & private decks for parking all around the area so it shouldn't be too hard to find a close space. I don't remember what the price is for option #1 but for option #2 the below currently apply: Adults: $22.00 - Children 12 & Under: $12.00 Senior / NSA Member $20.00 Active Military with ID $10.00 Children 3 & Under: $5.00 Family 4 Pack (2 Adults, 2 Children) $55.00 A few random facts: Boats depart weekends only every year over Memorial Day weekend and eventually go daily from July until Labor Day and then back to weekends only until the end of September. Check seaport.org for the current schedule and for special events such as their clambakes. Once you get to the island you get to take a brief tour of the lighthouse which was built in 1868 (downstairs only for now as the upstairs tower portion is being worked on and hopefully tours will be allowed there in the not to distant future once they get the stairs in better shape along with figuring out a way to dissipate the heat which we were told was well over 100 degrees the day we were there in August) and you can also walk through the nature trail via the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge. If you are going to walk on the nature trail or along the beach that fronts Sheffield Island Harbor just know that things are "wild" and that you will get eaten alive by flies, mosquitoes and I wouldn't be shocked if the trees had lots of ticks. The lighthouse was relit in 2011 for the first time in 91 years. Why Sheffield Island? The island was named after Revolutionary War veteran Captain Robert Sheffield who bought the island in 1804. He married Temperance Doty, a Mayflower descendant and such started the current lineage of the island's name. The 47 acre island is private property that is primarily owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the Norwalk Seaport Association depending upon the website owning only three or four of those acres. You will be reminded a few times of where you can and cannot walk. Speaking of an area you can't walk by it would be the dilapidated house on the right near the dock. That house is still owned by the Stabell family who sold the island to the Norwalk Seaport Association in 1986 for 700K. I forget the exact story we were told but it's something along the lines of the "home" (more of a dilapidated shack) cannot be renovated because of Fish and Wildlife Service rules and if they raze the structure they lose the land so the shack stands as is. The island itself is around a mile and half from the dock in Norwalk and the boat is kept at a country club pace in both directions which equals about 40 minutes to make the trip in each direction. This is fine as one of the crew did a fairly good job or telling everyone about some of the various islands & lighthouses & birds in the area and about the local shellfish industry. Past that it's just sit back and relax on some of their picnic benches and have a picnic or don't do a damn thing except the enjoy the beautiful view. Either way it's awesome. read more

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What a treat! If you live in the area, you need to put this on your summer to-do list. I've lived in the area for five years but didn't learn about this cruise until this summer. Be warned, book tickets online and in advance. They sold out for day/time we wanted to take the cruise, but there were 20 tickets still available the night before. Plan accordingly. We arrived for a 3:30 cruise on a beautiful August afternoon. The cruise seemed to be full, and there was a mix of couples and families on the boat. The boat ride is smooth and relaxing. The boat staff was offering a "guided" tour, but it was tough to hear, so I gave up trying and just enjoyed the experience of being out on the water. The boat ride is about 30 - 40 minutes each way. You won't get wet, at least we didn't, and there are enough seats/room for everyone. Once you arrive at the island, you have about 1.5 hours to explore. They have a guided lighthouse tour, a small concession stand, a small beach (not one that you would lay out at, so no need to bring a suit), volleyball courts, nature trails, etc. This entire experience is set up to be calm and relaxing. There isn't too much to do on the island, but that's kind of the point. You are only there for 1.5 hours, and there's no way you can get that bored in that period. Just unwind and take in the scenery for a few minutes, it will clear your mind. They offer limited food at the concession stand, but you can always bring your own snacks as well. Next time, I will bring a few snacks for us, especially since our trip was over dinner time. The bugs - BEWARE. They don't spray for mosquitos, and as a result, they are everywhere. I didn't know bugs would be a problem in advance, but the cruise provides spray upon arrival for free! I brought my own SPF, but they also provided that as well. The staff is lovely and do anything they can to make your experience as pleasant as possible. This is the perfect low-key day trip, and I highly recommend it to anyone in the area. read more

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Some time on the water A absolutely great way to spend the day. You can either take the boat from Norwalk or just save the money and kayak out to the island which is a beautiful chunk of land just a few miles off the coast of Norwalk. The real attraction of the island is the old lighthouse that is maintained by the Norwalk Seaport Association. It was built in 1868, and the 10 rooms are still filled with period furniture and artifacts. The area is great for kayaking and there are many other small uninhabited island are in the area to visit and on a clear day the skyline of NYC looms in the distance. read more

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I spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon visiting Sheffield Island with my husband and parents. After eating brunch and meandering around SONO, we took the 3pm ferry. The trip over to the island was lovely-- the Captain and his First Mate were so friendly and informative. Their lovely tour was worth the $22 alone, not including the ferry ride as well as the lighthouse tour you receive once on the island. I would recommend packing a picnic/some drinks etc. They do have a small concession stand in which you can buy drinks/bags of chips/cookies and hotdogs. For such a small operation, I was impressed at how reasonable the snacks were- we bought a hotdog, bag of Oreo Cookies and a bottled water for $5. As it was a very hot/sunny day, it was nice that they have large tented areas with picnic tables to cool out under. The lighthouse tour was very interesting and interactive- it managed to entertain us adults as well as some of the younger children on the tour. Unfortunately, the stairs to the top of the lighthouse need to be repaired so we were unable to go to the top. We were told they should be getting fixed soon so that visitors will be able to go up to the light. All-in-all, the entire experience went way beyond our expectations! We had a lot of fun exploring the island and can't wait to come back prepared with a picnic for our next trip! read more

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For $23 round trip, it's well worth it. You get a 40 minute boat ride each way, tour of things on the way. The guide was great. You spend about 1 1/2 hours on the island. Some people went swimming, others hung out at the picnic tables and other just walked along the island. I am told there are deer and racoons on the island. Lord knows how they get there, I guess they swim over. I didn't get in the rocky water, especially after seeing some sort of sea animal washed up and 3 jelly fish on the rocks - you don't have to tell me twice to say out (but keep in mind I am a little on the scary cat side) The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars was the 2.5 gazillion mosquitos flying around. I didn't know I had to bring bug spray or wear winter clothes when its 90 degrees out. AND the lighthouse stairs are under repair so we couldn't go up, darn. read more

Seaport Association - Sheffield Lighthouse - Boat Tours Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

Had the best birthday! amazing staff, beautiful experience. 10/10. They made sure we had a day to remember. We got the open bar tickets and took advantage of them while taking in the gorgeous views. I hope to return one day!! read more

We booked and took the Sunset Cruise. The Captain (Steve) and mate (Emma) were friendly and provided good information about the sound and the lighthouses. Only reason for 3 versus 4 or 5 stars is that everyone in our group thought the description of the boat was misleading. It is described as a 45' catamaran. I've been on lots of catamarans (I even used to own one). This is a pontoon boat, not a catamaran. When you arrive and see two boats at the dock - one a lovely looking catamaran, and the other a pontoon boat - and then you find out your tour is not on the catamaran, but instead the pontoon boat, you'll feel let down. That said, Captain Steve and Mate Emma were friendly and informative. read more

FERRY SCHEDULE MONDAY - FRIDAY: (begins 06/23/14) Ferry does not operate during NSA Oyster Festival (September 5, 6 & 7) Depart Dock - 11 AM Arrive Island - 11:45 AM Leave Island - 1:15 PM Return To Dock - 2 PM Depart Dock - 3 PM Arrive Island - 3:45 PM Leave Island - 5:15 PM Return To Dock - 6 PM Arrive at dock 15 min before departure Adults: $22.00 Children 12 & Under: $12.00 Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) $55.00 I put in only M-F details as I personally can't take the weekend masses. Going during the week leaves tolerable experience on the island with lighthouse tours, picnic table hordes, and almost an experience of ones own island if going the route of the ferry. Like other reviews, I concur, kayaking is the way to go here but, again, not on the weekend due to high traffic of motor boats! read more

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Living about 45 minutes away in NYC I have been wanting to visit the Island for over a year now. Last year we missed the May-September season that the ferry operates. Earlier this year, I noticed that there was a Groupon for buy one, get one free adult admissions (normally $25 each) from Monday-Friday. I picked one up for myself and fiance and purchased an additional child ticket for my 6 year-old ($16). The deal effectively made our deal about $40, down from $65. We decided to go on this past Friday at 3 PM. We left NYC at about 1:40 PM and with the typical traffic on I-95 North it took us about an hour and 10 minutes to get there. The address to the Ferry Dock is 4 North Water Street. There is a parking lot there where you pay at a muni meter. We paid $6 for 4 hours ($1.50 per hour).There is a booth there where you can buy or confirm (confirm is you reserved online which they recommend as the cruises get busy, especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday). You wait there for the boat to arrive. A person takes/checks your ticket before boarding and you can sit anywhere on the boat. There are seats in the front, the sides and the back. The side and back seats are covered by a awning so on sunny days it may be a good idea to sit there. Those wanting a front row seat of the boat ride can sit in the front. The 45 minute ride to the island was great. The captain was friendly giving little tourist-friendly information along the ride. Upon arrival you exit the boat and are free to explore the island. You are given about an hour and a half and meet back at the boat to depart at that time. There is a nature trail to the left which is more of grassland than anything else and leads to the beaching area which goes back to where the boat docked. There is a small concession stand selling hot dogs, drinks and chips. You can buy a combo of all three for $5. There are a bunch of panic tables covered by a canopy where you can bring food and drinks and have a picnic. There does seem to be any restrictions on what you can bring as people brought lots of food including a cooler of beer, which you are free to consume even while on the boatride over. There were a few of activities for the kids such as volleyball, sandbag tosses and frisbees. Lastly there is the lighthouse itself which has two floors and offers some cool looking rooms of long ago. At this time the lighthouse itself is closed without an estimated timeframe of reopening. That would have been the only thing I would have liked to do that I didnt get a chance to do. The 45-minute return ride was just a enjoyable as the ride there. There are usually a few cruises throughout the day. I also heard from a crew member that private parties can rent the boat (and captain) to take them out which is a nice option. I believe the maximum capacity is 39. All staff members, from the booth, to boat staff to island staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. I would highly recommend this to everyone of all ages, especially when the Groupon deal is around. read more

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Really great little ferry ride! Departure is to the tee so get there early to get the best seating. Anyways it's a smaller ferry which was nice so you can hear the guide quite well. He explains the historic sites on the way to the island which was quite interesting. The whole ride was approximately 30 min so dress accordingly and include sunscreen. The tour of the lighthouse was also guided although quick it was quite thorough. It was a fascinating little trip into our history. Great island to explore, eat (bring a picnic) very nice and knowledgable crew. read more

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The Sheffield Island lighthouse ferry is such a fun, lovely, classic new england way to spend a summer afternoon, 10/10 would recommend. It's a unique casual outing for friends/families/couples/kids. I live in Stamford, about 20 minutes away and cannot believe I hadn't heard about this earlier. I managed to catch the last ferry of the 2018 season (note the calendar posted on the Norwalk Seaport Association website) and can't wait for next year to do this again! Getting there/parking: I had originally plugged in the Norwalk Seaport Association address into maps, but the ferry itself is actually just over the little bridge. We parked for free across the street from the Seaport Association and walked over, but there is also a paid parking lot immediately in front of the ferry departure. We arrived about 5 minutes in advance and bought tickets at the booth without any issues. They accept credit and cash, and you can sit anywhere on the ferry. Our trip had about 30-40 folks, including some older people and young kids (toddlers). The ferry ride: So relaxing! The ferry takes a leisurely pace up through to Sheffield Island, about a 40 minute ride. The ride is smooth, and we were able to stand up and walk around the ferry if we wanted to. I think this would honestly be fine for anyone sensitive to motion/sea sickness. There are usually a lot of small boats and tiny islands in that area, and its nice to sit back and catch a breeze. On the return trip, the captain took us on an extra loop to better see the Manhattan and New Rochelle skylines which were visible on the horizon. Such a cool experience, and I had no idea it could be seen all the way from Norwalk! Sheffield Island: The tour of the historic lighthouse was really interesting, and its clear that a lot of effort and love went into setting this place up and restoring it. When we went, the lighthouse was under renovation, but an amazing fantastic volunteer snuck my husband and I up, and what a treat! The staircases/ladders were narrow but the views up there were absolutely stunning and so worth it! It was a clear beautiful day and we could see the water, the coast, the sound, and the Manhattan skyline off in the distance. Absolutely amazing. I don't think there's any other view quite like it. We had a few hours to ourselves on the island, and since the lighthouse tour was just about 30-40 minutes, there was plenty of time to walk along the shore. There was lots of sea glass, shells, and even a few horseshoe crabs. The shore is a little too rocky to actually enter the water, but there are lots of boulders to sit on and enjoy the view, and it's very peaceful. Even with a full ferry, the island was not crowded at all and we could spend some time sitting on the benches, chatting, walking around at our leisure. There were picnic tables set up, as well as a nature walk (sadly closed due to ticks, but we'll have to do that next year) Tips/advice: - Bring a camera! Trust me you're going to want to take a lot of photos of the view from the lighthouse tower. - Book tickets in advance, online, since the ferries can be filled up. - The ramp is a bit steep, so if you're bringing kids, bring a small portable stroller, since bulky might be a little heavy to push up. - Wear rugged slip-resistant shoes, since the shore is quite rocky. - Pack a picnic! I think you can even BYOB. Some lemonade, a caprese sandwich, some olives, while enjoying the view...perfection. All in all, a fantastic experience that I can't wait to share with family and friends!! read more

Our group took the 12:00 trip on Sunday 9/27/2020 . A tour which took us along the path of the surrounding islands and three major lighthouses of the area. Our captain and guide greeted us with enthusiasm . The guide apologised for the lack of the pa system and invited us to let him know if there was a problem hearing him and he will speak louder if necessary. They were attentive to our needs at the time. We enjoyed our trip and was amazed at the vast array of information and humor mixed in . Sorry I'm not good at remembering names but I remembered our guide name is Matthew because my son's name is Matthew . They sure will be seeing next year. read more

My boyfriend and I took the Norwalk Sheffield Island Ferry last August (2014). It was a bit of a cloudy day but still beautiful and warm. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and told us all about the history of Norwalk, conservation efforts, and lots of anecdotes I had never heard. We left around 3 PM and returned around 6 PM. I would say bring food with you if you are going on the 11 AM trip, but we were fine because it was late afternoon.There are picnic tables where you could sit and eat anything you had brought. We went on a tour of the lighthouse (probably about 15-20 minutes, it's pretty small) and then spent the rest of the time walking around the island, taking photos and exploring. I would definitely recommend wearing sneakers and bringing bug spray! The staff was great and it was a fun and relaxing trip. Really great activity for a summer day. read more

We enjoyed our trip to the island. 3 hours total with a half hour ride on the ferry. They have a covered pavilion with plenty of picnic tables to enjoy the lunch we brought with us. I was prepared for limited snack options on site so it was not a problem for us. Enjoyed walking along the shell-covered beach and enjoying nature. They had a couple of lawn games like corn hole and horseshoes plus a volleyball net. Lots of mosquitos so use the bug spray that they offer upon arrival. Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable. I would do this again with out of town visitors. read more

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Friendly staff and nice short ride to the lighthouse. Osprey nests were amazing to see up close. Overall a good experience. We were disappointed by the lack of lunch option as it was stated on their website- but may have just been a one time issue. read more

Breathtaking boat ride to beautiful island. The crew and staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The island has lawn games for family fun, small snack shop and plenty of picnic tables and Adirondack chairs. read more

Not worth the 22$ fee. Nothing to do in the island. Just go there and see a small light house. You will get close to two hours in the island. I suggest u go with family to have a picnic here. Food is not served in the island make sure u bring something. Picnic tables and tents are available in the island. Nature trail in island is very very small. Won't even last for 8mins. read more

I went out with 25 other senior citizens and we had a great picnic there. While it is not wheel chair accessible, those who are relatively stable and can do steps with railings, should be able to manage this. The 1st mate, Mark, gave us a great history of the area and the crew out on the island were very helpful toting coolers, etc. There is a lighthouse and they do give a talk about it. No one went up to the top...Not sure it is allowed. There is plenty of time to picnic under tents (bring your own everything). The office is very helpful when you are purchasing tickets. Allow yourself extra time to find parking around South Norwalk or in the small parking lot bc ferry runs on schedule and you don't want to miss it! Thank you Captain Alan and Crew (Danny, Nick and Dylan) read more

Looking for a break from reality? This afternoon getaway is the perfect opportunity to put your concerns to rest and enjoy something new. Both the Captain and the First Mate were a pleasure to cruise out with. Beautiful views, well kept and easy to navigate trails, clean outhouses, snack stand, helpful staff. Not much more you can ask for. Very therapeutic and I will certainly be going out again this summer. read more

Seaport Association - Boat Tours Near Me - Norwalk, Connecticut

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Thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Sheffield Island with the husband and 4 year old granddaughter about a month ago. We bought tickets in advance over the phone because it does fill up in the summer. It's not a huge ferry -seats about 30-35. They go slow and give you a little tour of the harbor on the way out. It takes about 30 min. Once on the island you are free to roam around or take the lighthouse or nature trail tour. They have nice places to sit and chill if you'd rather just relax. They make hotdogs and sell those with a soda and chips for $5. It's very laid back. Our 4 year old was very entertained - it was just enough time on the island before we headed back. Plenty of parking at the Aquarium. I took the train to SoNo and just walked over. It's about 10 min walk or you can take a cab if you prefer. Plenty of dining options nearby. We stopped at SoNo Seaport Seafood for dinner which was perfect. read more

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Great afternoon with the family! Took the ferry from So. Norwalk to the island. The 1st Mate gave pointed out some businesses and landmarks as we cruised to the island. Very interesting! Once we arrived at the island, we were greeted by the lighthouse keeper. We walked over to the lighthouse for the included guided tour. The host was quite informative of the history of the Lighthouse. Afterwards we walked the island's nature trails, and relaxed by the sea. Before we knew it it was time to take the return ferry back . We ended our mini-vacation with a fine seafood dinner at one of the many restaurants which are located within walking distance from the dock. read more

Went on the cruise during the inaugural weekend. The tour guides are extremely friendly and knowledgable. The island provides a lot of tranquility and exploration opportunities. It's is an absolutely breathtaking experience. read more