Washington Island Ferry Dock in Northport — Live Webcam Traffic

At the very tip of the Door Peninsula, where the waters of Green Bay meet the waters of Lake Michigan, lies the Washington Island Ferry Dock — a vital transportation link between the mainland and the island with its permanent population. This pier in Northport serves as the departure point for the Washington Island Ferry Line, providing year-round service across the strait.

Northport Ferry Dock Infrastructure

The Washington Island Ferry Dock is a combined structure — a pier/breakwater originally built as a stone embankment in the late 1920s. The structure has been upgraded multiple times: in 1982 the pier was extended by 70 feet, and in 1994 construction of an all-weather steel and concrete breakwater was completed. It was then that Northport became the main ferry dock on the mainland, capable of handling vessels in strong winds, high waves, and difficult ice conditions.

The concrete pier is equipped with rubber fenders that protect ferry hulls during mooring. Adjacent to it is a single-story ferry terminal building with a waiting hall — here passengers wait for boarding, and drivers maneuver before loading vehicles onto the vessel.

History of the Breakwater Pier

Construction of the pier in Northport began in the late 1920s as a stone embankment. The 1982 expansion added 70 feet of length, and the final phase in 1994 transformed the structure into an all-weather breakwater. Before that, the ferry crossing was weather-dependent — strong winds and waves in Green Bay often made docking impossible.

A tragic chapter in the ferry's history — March 9, 1935, when six young men died after falling through the ice. This incident became one of the deadliest in the bay's maritime history and underscored the need for a reliable dock structure.

Washington Island Ferry Line

Washington Island Ferry Line was founded in 1940 with two wooden ferries. Today the company operates modern Coast Guard-approved steel vessels that make up to 25 trips per day during peak season. The ferries Arni J. Richter (2003) and the newer Madonna carry up to 149 passengers and 18 vehicles, with ice-class capabilities for winter navigation.

The crossing provides year-round transportation between the Door Peninsula and Washington Island — an island with a permanent population. The ferry transports passengers, vehicles, and cargo. The crossing takes about 30 minutes, making this route a lifeline for island residents.

Transportation Significance of the Crossing

The Washington Island Ferry Dock is the northern terminus of WIS 42 highway and the mainland-side pier for the ferry crossing. For Washington Island, the ferry is the only year-round transportation link to the mainland — in winter, when the ice in Green Bay is too thick for vessels but not strong enough for vehicles, icebreakers and special craft maintain the connection.

During the summer season, the crossing handles a flow of tourists heading to the island for its scenery, beaches, and Norwegian heritage. Ferry traffic during this period is intense — vehicles line up for loading, and passengers fill the vessel decks.

Northport Surroundings and the Door Peninsula

Northport is located in the unincorporated community of Liberty Grove, Door County, Wisconsin — at the very northern tip of the Door Peninsula. The area is bordered by Green Bay to the west and Lake Michigan to the east. Nearby settlements are Ellison Bay (about 5 minutes south) and the fishing village of Gills Rock.

The Door Peninsula is known for its cherry orchards, fishing villages, and rocky shores. Northport is a quiet departure point for travelers, where the infrastructure is tailored to the needs of the ferry crossing: parking lots, waiting areas, and ticket offices.

What the Camera Shows

The camera broadcasts a view of the Washington Island Ferry Dock in Northport. In the foreground is a green lawn with wooden benches and a row of flagpoles flying flags: the US flag, the UK flag, the Norwegian flag, and the Swedish flag — a nod to the region's Scandinavian heritage. A ferry with superstructures is moored to the concrete pier, which is equipped with rubber fenders. Next to the pier is a small single-story building — the ferry terminal with a waiting hall.

Water occupies most of the frame — the broad expanse of Green Bay. In the opposite shore, covered with dense forest, is visible in the background. The scene depicts a public area with infrastructure for ferry passengers — the place where the journey to Washington Island begins.