Pilot Island

For the island in Vanuatu that is also called Pilot Island, see Lataro.

Pilot Island is an island in Lake Michigan in the Town of Washington, in Door County, Wisconsin; it is part of Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge. An abandoned lighthouse, the Pilot Island Light, rests on the island,^[1][2] and three shipwrecks rest in the Pilot Island NW Site. Pilot Island lies in the middle of the southern opening of the Porte des Morts passage off the tip of the Door Peninsula.

Pilot Island

Taken July 21, 2019
Pilot Island Show map of Wisconsin Pilot Island Show map of the United States
Geography
Location	Door County, Wisconsin
Coordinates	45°17′06″N 086°55′11″W
Adjacent to	Lake Michigan
Highest elevation	581 ft (177.1 m)
Administration
United States

Pilot Island earned its name due to the use of the island as a "pilot" by sailors going through the dangerous Porte des Morts passage.^[3]

The lighthouse started operations in 1858 and continues to this day to be a maritime navigational aid. The island was often foggy and the fog signal would run for long periods of time. The fog signal was discontinued in 1962.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  October 2, 2004
• 
  July 28, 2020
• 
  Map of Death's Door islands. Pilot island is located in the southeastern portion.

From the lake

May 23, 2013

Nearby islands

Pilot Island is the small island at the lower right, with the larger Plum Island is at the lower left. Above Pilot Island is the long and narrow Detroit Island, with Washington Island in the distance.