Raspberry Island |
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The two most popular island
destinations on the National Lakeshore are Stockton Island and one mile long Raspberry
Island. Raspberry Lighthouse was built in 1864. The grounds are attractive, very accessible from the deep water dock, and of course, often photographed. |
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During the summer season,
tours of the main building and tower are offered. This is a "don't miss" tour. The host will take you back in time, and the view is worth every step of the climb. It's a great lunch stop too. |
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on the SE side of the island, is often host to thirty or more anchored boats.
It's a lovely bay. A trail leads to the lighthouse.
Though cool, the beach is great for swimming |
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From this anchorage, Oak
Island is about two miles to the SE, Bear Island a similar distance to the North (in the
photo above in the haze at the top), and to the south about 1-1/2 miles is beautiful
Raspberry Bay on the mainland. There is another small bay on the west side of the island, where you can usually find a few boats at anchor in the right conditions. With York and Sand Islands in the distance, the sunsets can be spectacular from this anchorage. |
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There are few navigation
concerns at Raspberry Island. If your boat draws six feet, as mine does, you will want to stay toward the outer end of the longest dock. Closer to shore, large boulders will be visible to the crew keeping watch at the bow. The chart indicates a "Marina Shoal" at the South end of the island, and there is a buoy that marks the western end of the shoal. This area really doesn't provide a problem to small craft, but it is a good idea to stay out a bit. |
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South of Raspberry Island is
an excellent spot to drop anchor for lunch, a swim - or the entire night. The bottom is unobstructed sand, and the full width of the bay offers solid holding in as little as 10' of water. The land here is owned by the Red Cliff Indians. Several homes and a private dock are on the west side, a sandstone cliff borders the east side, and a beautiful beach rests between. There is great protection here. It would take a considerably strong north wind to make things uncomfortable, and even then a two anchor spread should keep all secure. Our final stop on this cruise of the Apostles is a super dock on the SW side of Oak Island. |
Copyright
1998 - 2008 by Lew Miller, DBA Marlew Publishing.
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