6 Must-Visit Islands Found in Ohio’s Lakes

Ohio is home to hundreds of lakes including Lake Erie. Within Lake Erie are beautiful, must-visit islands you can easily sail to! Follow along to discover the 7 must-visit islands found in Ohio’s lakes, and fun things to do in each.

1. South Bass Island

The first island on our list is South Bass Island in Ottawa County, Ohio. This small island is about 3 miles off of the coast of Lake Erie. It’s also the southernmost of the three Bass Islands. South Bass Island is about 3.7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. Its surface area is 1,588.3 acres. Don’t let its small size fool you though, this beautiful freshwater island is a popular summer tourist destination. You can travel to South Bass Island via ferry. While on the island, there are lots of things to do and visit including South Bass Island State Park, Perry’s Cave, Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center, and Perry’s Victory Monument. Apart from exploring the island, visitors can also swim, sail, kayak, fish, camp, and more.

2. Whiskey Island

Next on our list is Whiskey Island, which is technically a peninsula, and not an island, but is worth a mention on our list. Whiskey Island sits at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River at Lake Erie. Whiskey Island’s history starts with the Native Americans that settled along the Cuyahoga River. The first European settler though was Lorenzo Carter and soon after, Irish immigrants moved. Many of the Irish immigrants that moved to Whiskey Island were workers developing Whiskey Island. Whiskey Island is great family fun. You can visit places like Edgewater Park and Edgewater Marina. Visitors can also split their time between Whiskey Island beaches and exploring Cleveland, Ohio.

3. Kelleys Island

Kelleys Island is one of the best islands found in Ohio’s lakes. It’s a village and island in Lake Erie. The original name for this island was Sandusky Island, however, it was also known as Island Number 6 and Cunningham Island. Kelleys Island’s surface area is 4.41 square miles. This small, but beautiful island, is only home to about 250 permanent residents. Although there are only 250 permanent residents, visitors from all over the country visit during the summer. It’s a great place to beat the summer heat and swim on one of many beaches. 

The island is also home to many small businesses including restaurants, gift shops, and retail stores. After a long day of swimming, visitors can walk along the shops. Kelleys Island is also best known for the Kelley’s Island Wine Company. Sadly, only the ruins remain, but at its peak, it was one of the largest wineries in the nation. On the island are also Kelleys Island State Park and Inscription Rock, a historical landmark.

4. Gibraltar Island

Another wonderful island in Ohio’s lakes is Gibraltar Island. It’s a small, 6.55-acre island within Lake Erie and in Ottawa County. Another name for Gibraltar Island is the Gem of Lake Erie. It held an important role in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. The island acted as a lookout point. Gibraltar Island is open to visitors, but only during summer. You can take tours throughout the island for a small fee, but the dates and hours vary. Open from June through August is the Aquatic Visitors Center, a previous fish hatchery. Currently, the island is owned by the Ohio State University.

5. Middle Bass Island

Middle Bass Island is also in Lake Erie. It’s an 805-acre island shaped like the big dipper. Although not as busy as South Bass Island, visitors still flock here during summer. There are only about 25 permanent year-long residents. Previously, this island was called Isle des Fleures, the Island of Flowers. The first European explorer to set foot on this lovely island Robert La Salle, in 1679. About 200 years later, German immigrants moved to the island and planted grapes, which were used to produce wine for the Lonz Winery, first named the Golden Eagle Winery. The Lonz Wintery is now open to the public for tours.

6. North Bass Island

The last must-visit Ohio island is North Bass Island. It’s a 688-acre island home to Isle Saint George, an unincorporated community. Like some other islands surrounding North Bass Island, it was previously used as a vineyard. This beautiful and nearly completely untouched island has no ferry service, just a small airport. Interestingly, high school students living on North Bass Island fly to mainland Ohio or other islands during the school year.

Summary of The 6 Must-Visit Islands Found in Ohio’s Lakes

Here are 6 Must-Visit Islands Found in Ohio’s Lakes: