Rising from the waters of Chesapeake Bay, Wolf Trap Light is a caisson-style lighthouse built in 1870 to mark the dangerous Wolf Trap shoal off Virginia’s Middle Peninsula. It replaced an earlier screwpile light destroyed by Confederate forces during the Civil War. The squat, cylindrical foundation topped by a keeper’s dwelling gives it a distinctive fortress-like appearance characteristic of Chesapeake Bay caisson lights. Now decommissioned, the lighthouse is not open to the public and cannot be climbed. It is best viewed and photographed by boat, with golden-hour light on calm evenings producing striking reflections. Nearby, visitors can explore Mathews County, the Deltaville maritime community, and the scenic shores of the lower Chesapeake.

Explore Nearby

• Kiptopeke State Park — State Park in Virginia
• Machicomoco State Park — State Park in Virginia
• Colonial Parkway — Scenic Byway in Virginia
• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway — Scenic Byway in Maryland
• Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area — Public Land in Maryland