Door County Lighthouses

Door County’s 11 Historic Lighthouses

*some accessible by land, others only by boat

Cana Island Lighthouse

Baileys Harbor, Built: 1869 | Height: 89 ft | The most visited and photographed, accessible by a causeway.

Cana Island Lighthouse is the most famous Door County lighthouse; climb to the top for sweeping Lake Michigan views. Access via causeway or tractor ride. Don’t Miss: The restored keeper’s quarters and museum. Best Time: Morning for calm causeway crossing, or sunset for photos.

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse

Peninsula State Park, Ephraim, Built: 1868 | Height: 43 ft | Beautifully restored and open for tours

Overlooks the stunning Green Bay side of Door County. The red-brick keeper’s house is fully restored with period furnishings. Tours: Run by the Door County Historical Society. Guides share fascinating stories of past keepers. Nearby: Peninsula State Park for hiking, biking, or Eagle Tower for treetop views.

Old Baileys Harbor “Birdcage” Lighthouse

Private property, not open to the public, but visible from the water.

Baileys Harbor Range Lights

Ridges Sanctuary, Baileys Harbor, Built: 1869 | Two lights within The Ridges Sanctuary, historically used together to guide ships safely into harbor.

A pair of small but unique lighthouses that worked together to guide ships into Baileys Harbor. Mariners aligned the two lights to safely enter the harbor. Today: Restored and open seasonally with guided tours through the Ridges Sanctuary. Nearby: The boardwalk trails of The Ridges offer one of the most beautiful hikes in Door County.

Pilot Island Light

Pilot Island, Built: 1858 |  Off the tip of the peninsula near Gills Rock; viewable only by boat.

Located just offshore, not open to the public but visible from the ferry to Washington Island. Its ruins are hauntingly beautiful and photographers paradise.

Chambers Island Lighthouse

Chambers Island Lighthouse, Off Fish Creek, Built: 1868 | Height: 67 ft | Accessible by boat from Fish Creek; privately owned but occasionally open for tours.

Remote and peaceful. Requires a boat ride to access. Today: Owned by the Door County Land Trust; the lighthouse is restored and open on select summer weekends.

Pottawatomie Lighthouse

Pottawatomie Lighthouse, Rock Island State Park

The oldest lighthouse in Door County, restored and open to visitors who hike in.

Plum Island Rear Range Lighthouse

Plum Island Rear Range Light, Near Northport Ferry Dock, Built: 1896 | On Plum Island between Washington Island and the mainland; viewable by boat.

Still standing on uninhabited Plum Island in Death’s Door Passage. Restoration efforts are underway by the Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands. Tours are occasionally offered via special boat trips.

Sherwood Point Lighthouse

Sherwood Point Lighthouse, Near Sturgeon Bay, Built: 1883 | Height: 37 ft | The last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes, not open to the public but viewable from the water.

The last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes (automated in 1983). Today: Not open to the public (it’s owned by the U.S. Coast Guard) but can be viewed from the water on a boat tour.

Sturgeon Bay Canal Station Lighthouse

Sturgeon Bay Canal Station Lighthouse, Built:1899) | At the Lake Michigan end of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal.

Classic red-brick light, still operational. Not generally open for tours.

Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Light

North Pierhead Light, Sturgeon Bay, Built: 1882 |  Also at the canal entrance; distinctive red pier light.

Bright red tower at the end of the pier, one of the most photographed lighthouses in Door County. Visitors can walk the pier for close-up views (caution: it can be slippery on windy days.

Suggested Lighthouse Itinerary

Day 1 (Sturgeon Bay & Southern Door): Visit Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Light (walk the pier). Stop by Sherwood Point (view from a distance). Explore downtown Sturgeon Bay for dinner.

Day 2 (Peninsula State Park & Baileys Harbor): Morning: Tour Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park. Afternoon: Head to Baileys Harbor Range Lights and hike The Ridges Sanctuary. Evening: End the day at Cana Island Lighthouse for sunset.

Day 3 (Northern Door & Islands): Take the ferry to Washington Island. On the way, spot Pilot Island Lighthouse. Join a boat tour to Plum Island Rear Range Light if available. For adventurous travelers: Arrange a trip to Chambers Island Lighthouse.

Late spring through fall most lighthouses close in winter. Early morning or golden hour provides the best light. Door County Maritime Museum hosts a Lighthouse Festival twice a year (June & September), offering rare access to normally closed sites like Chambers and Sherwood Point. Visiting Door County’s lighthouses is more than sightseeing it’s stepping into the maritime history that shaped the peninsula. 

*Several local companies offer lighthouse cruises (e.g., Door County Lighthouse Cruises out of Gills Rock and Fish Creek).