Old Baldy Lighthouse and Smith Island Museum

Old Baldy Lighthouse is absolutely beautiful and full of charm. Even though we didn’t climb to the top, just seeing it up close was special. It’s the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina and a must-visit for anyone coming to Bald Head Island. The grounds are peaceful and well-kept—perfect for soaking in a bit of history and coastal beauty.

If you want a good view of the island it is worth the admission. However to get to the top, there are over 110 stairs. And to get into the top, it can be a tight squeeze. Watch your head.

The kids and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the island, seeing the lighthouse, and riding around exploring! We had an amazing lunch, and the ferry ride was extremely enjoyable!

Old Baldy (the oldest lighthouse on the North Carolina coast) is located on Bald Head Island - a 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland. The island was tranquil and not very crowded at all, and there are bathrooms readily available on either side of the ferry terminals and behind the lighthouse shop/museum. There are 108 steps to the top, including a traditional ladder as the last hurdle before being in the top with the light. With the window open at the top, we had a nice cool breeze on an 80-degree day. On each level, there's information about the lighthouse history and other light stations in the area. Before leaving, make sure to check out the shop and the museum if you didn't before going up the lighthouse.

Well worth the time for a visit! The stairs were a bit steep but the landings helped a lot. The hole at the top is tight - I made it through but even just craning your neck from the top of the ladder is cool, as well as refreshingly breezy the day we were there. And the museum is tiny but had a lot of great info - would love to do the tour next time!

Wonderful historic Lighthouse on Bald Head Island. The price to climb isn't bad. It's not that tall, so the climb is easy. The gift shop is neat. There is a picnic area for families to relax and eat. Highly recommended for those who love visiting lighthouses.

It was absolutely stunning at the top! Breathtaking even. Would not recommend for those who are afraid of heights or claustrophobic! Though it was a neat experience, the stairs were very rickety and the space got smaller and smaller as you went up! It gave a whoosy feeling when looking down, and once you got to the top you could only fit about 6 people. It was very tiny. The over all experience was cool. And the rest of the Island was Beautiful!

Took the thirty minute ferry ride over to Bald Island. On the way over we sat in the WRONG spot, we were pretty soaked from the waves. On the way back we got to the ferry early and opted to sit on the upper deck. Exploring the island involves a lot of walking, I would advise you to wear sneakers, bring sunscreen, dress for the climate, and definitely enough water for each person in your group, there is no beverages or anything to purchase once you get on the island and you will get thirsty. I will definitely go back and do this again and recommend it it was awesome. By the way, they do have golf carts you can rent, but you have to reserve them in advance. They were all, but when we got there and we were never made aware that they were an option but we really didn’t mind walking. It was great weather on our visit