The Lights of the 2017 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge

My proposed route for the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge

“I’ve seen the lights!”

The U.S. Lighthouse Society's Chesapeake Chapter presents:

2017 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge

The highly anticipated 11th Maryland Lighthouse Challenge will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17, 2017. An early bird date of Friday, September 15 offers additional, "unofficial" lighthouse appreciation activities on Maryland’s eastern shore.

Complimentary souvenirs will be given at each Challenge location. You are welcome to visit any number of lighthouses along the Challenge route, but you will have to visit all mandatory stops to be able to proclaim “I’ve seen the lights!” and collect a specially designed souvenir to mark your accomplishment.

The lineup of "Mandatory Lights" around the clockwise route includes these 10:
1. Concord Point, Havre de Grace
2. Seven Foot Knoll, Baltimore Inner Harbor, Pier 5
3. Lightship Chesapeake, Baltimore Inner Harbor, Pier 3
4. Hooper Strait, St. Michael's
5. Choptank River Replica, Cambridge
6. Cove Point, Lusby
7. Drum Point, Solomons
8. Piney Point Lighthouse, Piney Point
9. Point Lookout, Lexington Park
10. Fort Washington Lighthouse, Fort Washington


Bonus Lights include:
• Millers Island Lighthouse at Sparrow’s Point (between Concord Point and Inner Harbor)
• Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse at Annapolis (in Annapolis near the Bay Bridge)
• Blackistone Lighthouse Replica at Colton’s Point (between Point Lookout and Fort Washington)


Visiting these three bonus lighthouses is not counted toward event completion, but will take Challengers to three more beautiful Bay locations, earning them extra event souvenirs!

I'm excited to combine my passions for boating and two-wheeled travel on an early fall weekend. Toss in an overnight in lovely Annapolis, and this trip has the makings of a memorable treat. My plan is to meet the challenge in two days.

• Day One: ride from Alexandria to Concord Point, then bypass the optional Millers Island light in the interest of time, hit the two in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, then cross the Bay Bridge to Hooper and Choptank, then head back across the Bay Bridge to end the day in Annapolis. Option: visit Sandy Point Shoal if time allows.
• Day Two: Head south to complete the challenge in a clockwise manner, Cove, Drum, Piney, Point Lookout, optional stop at Blackistone, then on to Fort Washington before crossing the Wilson Bridge on I-495 back to Alexandria.

Just under 500 miles over 2 days, to see 10 to 12 lights, collect souvenirs, and earn bragging rights.

The Maryland Lighthouse Challenge…

Making Maryland memories–one lighthouse at a time!

Contact: Challenge Coordinator, Karen Rosage, (410) 437-0741, challenge@cheslights.org. Accessed Sep 3, 2017 from http://cheslights.org/maryland-lighthouse-challenge/.