Door County's 11 lighthouses: Your Complete Guide

Door County packs 11 historic lighthouses into a single narrow peninsula — the highest concentration of any county in the United States. For families driving up from Milwaukee (about 2.5 hours on I-43), this makes for one of the Midwest's best road-trip themes: a lighthouse tour mixing maritime history, jaw-dropping Lake Michigan views, tower climbs, haywagon rides, and enough kid-friendly pit stops to fill a long weekend.

Seven of these lights can be reached by car, while four require boats or ferries — ranging from a quick harbor cruise to an all-day, two-ferry island adventure. Most lighthouses open mid-May through mid-October, with the best combination of access, weather, and manageable crowds falling in June and September.

Whether you are a Door County veteran or a first time Door County visitor, this guide covers every Door County lighthouse from Sturgeon Bay to Rock Island, organized south to north to match a natural driving route up the peninsula.

Sturgeon Bay: where lighthouse tours begin

Door County Maritime Museum

Before visiting any lighthouses, start at the Door County Maritime Museum at 120 North Madison Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. It is the best first stop for families who want the story behind Door County’s working waterfront, shipbuilding history, tugboats and lighthouse keepers before heading up the peninsula.

The museum’s 10-story Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower gives families a rare lighthouse-style view without a spiral staircase, and the museum also offers guided tours of the restored 149-foot John Purves tugboat during the May–October season.

2026 hours: The Sturgeon Bay museum is open year-round. Current posted hours are January–April 10 AM–4 PM, May–October 9 AM–5 PM, and November–December 10 AM–5 PM. Admission is currently $17 adults, $14 seniors/veterans and $8 youth ages 5–17, with combo pricing available if you add a guided John Purves tugboat tour.

The Peterson Gallery renovation is complete, and the museum has opened a new temporary and traveling exhibition space there. Check the museum’s hours and admissions page before visiting, especially in winter weather.

For more trip-planning ideas, pair this stop with our complete Door County family travel guide.

Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse and North Pierhead Light

These two lights sit together at the Lake Michigan end of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, near the active U.S. Coast Guard station at the end of Canal Road. The tall white Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Light was built in 1899 and automated in 1972. The red North Pierhead Light, often called “Big Red,” marks the end of the pier and is one of the most recognizable lighthouse views in Door County.

The lower-level breakwall and pier are open to the public, but the Coast Guard station grounds and lighthouse interiors are not generally open except for special events. Park in the lot outside the station gate and follow the signed public route toward the seawall.

This is one of the easiest free lighthouse stops in Door County, but use caution with kids. The pier can be slippery, waves can splash over the breakwall, and there are no restrooms at the site.

Sherwood Point Lighthouse

Sherwood Point Lighthosue

Sherwood Point Lighthouse is one of Door County’s most interesting hidden lights. Built in 1883, it was the last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes and was automated in 1983. It is also Door County’s only red brick lighthouse.

The catch: Sherwood Point is normally closed to the public because it is operated as a U.S. Coast Guard rest-and-recuperation property. The best way to visit is during Door Peninsula Lighthouse Passport Days, when self-guided grounds tours and special evening programs are offered on select dates.

For 2026, Sherwood Point self-guided grounds tours are listed for June 6–7 and October 3–4 from 10 AM–4 PM with a requested $5 donation. The popular Sherwood Point Fireside Chat events are scheduled for June 5–6 at 7:30 PM and October 2–3 at 5:30 PM.

Outside Passport Days, view it from the water or from across the bay at Olde Stone Quarry County Park.

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse at Peninsula State Park

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse sits inside Peninsula State Park, one of the easiest places to combine lighthouse history with a full family day outside. The lighthouse is operated by the Door County Historical Society and is open for self-guided tours seven days a week, 11 AM–4 PM, from mid-May through mid-October. It is closed July 4.

Admission is currently $7 per person, with Door County Historical Society members and U.S. military admitted free. A Wisconsin state park vehicle admission pass is also required to enter Peninsula State Park. Current daily vehicle passes are $13 for Wisconsin plates and $16 for out-of-state plates; 12-month passes are $28 for Wisconsin plates and $50 for out-of-state plates.

Make this a bigger stop by adding Eagle Tower, Nicolet Bay Beach, a bike ride, or a meal in Fish Creek. For more nearby ideas, use our Fish Creek family guide.

Baileys Harbor Range Lights at The Ridges Sanctuary

The Baileys Harbor Range Lights are one of the most kid-friendly lighthouse stops because the walk is short, scenic and tied into The Ridges Sanctuary, Wisconsin’s first land trust.

The Upper and Lower Range Lights were built in 1869 and are still functional navigational aids. To get “on range,” sailors aligned the white upper light above the red lower light to enter Baileys Harbor safely.

Families should register at The Ridges Sanctuary Nature Center, 8166 Highway 57. The Range Light grounds are open to the public May–October, generally Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM–3 PM and Wednesday from 11 AM–2 PM. Tours are free for members and $5 for non-members, included with the day pass.

The Hidden Brook Boardwalk is ADA-compliant, eight feet wide and stroller-friendly. Dogs and bikes are not allowed on Ridges Sanctuary trails.

Old Baileys Harbor Lighthouse

The Old Baileys Harbor Lighthouse, also known as the Birdcage Lighthouse, is separate from the Baileys Harbor Range Lights. It was built in the early 1850s on Lighthouse Island and removed from service in 1869 after the Range Lights and Cana Island Lighthouse took over navigation duties.

The Birdcage is privately owned and not accessible by foot. You can view it from downtown Baileys Harbor parks, from the water by boat or kayak tour, or with binoculars from shore. The Baileys Harbor Community Association has a helpful overview of the village’s lighthouse stops.

Cana Island Lighthouse

Cana Island Lighthouse

If your family visits only one Door County lighthouse, make it Cana Island Lighthouse. The 89-foot white tower, keeper’s quarters, rocky causeway and Lake Michigan setting make it the classic Door County lighthouse experience.

Cana Island is open May 1 through October 31, 10 AM–5 PM. The last tower climb begins at 4:30 PM. Admission is currently $12 adults, $10 youth ages 5–17, $10 seniors/veterans and free for children 4 and under. Children must be at least 5 years old and 42 inches tall to climb the tower.

The causeway is part of the adventure. Lake Michigan water can cover the rocky path, so the museum operates a complimentary tractor-drawn haywagon on select days. Current 2026 tractor hours are Mondays and Wednesdays 12:30–3 PM and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 10 AM–5 PM. Check the Cana Island Lighthouse Facebook page or DCMM before visiting because weather and water levels can affect access.

A severe storm on August 9, 2025 caused major tree damage around Cana Island and damaged the Welcome & Interpretive Center roof, but no historic lighthouse structures were damaged. Expect reduced shade in some areas and bring sunscreen, water and hats.

Door Peninsula Lighthouse Passport Days

The former Door County Lighthouse Walk has been reimagined as Door Peninsula Lighthouse Passport Days. This is the key to seeing places that are normally closed to the public, including Sherwood Point, Chambers Island and Plum Island.

For 2026, the main Passport Days dates are June 5–7, August 7 and October 2–4. Specific tours vary by date, so check the official ticket listings before planning around a particular lighthouse.

Highlights include:

• Sherwood Point self-guided grounds tours

• Sherwood Point Fireside Chats with s’mores and ghost stories

• Cana Island “Whispering Lanterns” evening programs

• Chambers Island Lighthouse boat-and-hike tours

• Plum and Pilot Island boat tours

• Special Door County Trolley lighthouse tours

Proceeds support lighthouse preservation, and the program connects with the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s passport program, which can be a fun motivator for kids who like collecting stamps.

Organized lighthouse tours

Families who do not want to plan every stop can book a guided tour.

Door County Trolley offers a classic lighthouse tour June through October on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM–3 PM. The tour visits Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Cana Island Lighthouse and the Baileys Harbor Range Lights, with private tours at each stop and a box lunch included. The current listed price is $79.95/adult. During Passport Days, the special lighthouse trolley tour adds extra lighthouse access and is listed at $84.95/adult.

For water views, Death’s Door Boat Tours and Door County Adventure Rafting offer routes past Plum Island, Pilot Island and other northern Door County sights. Adventure Rafting’s Death’s Door Tour is a 2-hour tour for ages 3+ and departs from Ellison Bay.

Pottawatomie Lighthouse on Rock Island

Pottawatomie Lighthouse on Rock Island is the big adventure lighthouse, and it takes real planning. Rock Island State Park is vehicle-free and bike-free, so families need two ferry rides and a hike.

Here is the basic route:

1. Take the Washington Island Ferry from Northport Pier.

2. Drive across Washington Island about 8.4 miles to Jackson Harbor.

3. Take the passenger-only Rock Island Ferry to Rock Island.

4. Hike from the dock to Pottawatomie Lighthouse.

Current 2026 Washington Island Ferry round-trip rates are $16 adult, $8 child ages 6–11, free for children 5 and under, and $30 for a car. Rock Island combination tickets purchased at Northport are $31 adult and $14 child ages 6–11. Rock Island-only ferry tickets are $15 adult and $6 child. Credit cards are not accepted aboard the Rock Island Ferry, so plan ahead.

The Rock Island Ferry runs seasonally, and schedules vary by date. Rock Island State Park is open 6 AM–11 PM daily, but the ferry generally runs Memorial Day weekend through the second Monday in October. Daily guided lighthouse tours began May 23 for the 2026 season.

For a deeper island itinerary, pair this section with our Washington Island family guide.

When to go

Late May and June are ideal for lighthouse families because most sites are open, spring crowds are lighter and Passport Days unlock special access. This is also a great season to pair lighthouses with our Door County cherry blossoms guide.

July and August bring the longest hours, warmest weather and the easiest boat-tour conditions, but also the biggest crowds. If you are visiting in peak summer, use our Door County in August guide for seasonal planning.

September and early October may be the most beautiful window for lighthouse photos. Fall color, cooler hiking weather and October Passport Days make this a strong choice for families who can travel after Labor Day.

November through April, most lighthouse interiors are closed, but the Door County Maritime Museum remains open year-round, the Sturgeon Bay pier is accessible in safe conditions, and winter ice can make the lights dramatic for photography.

Stops to pair with lighthouse hunting

Door County is easier with kids when you build in food, beach and playground breaks. Near Fish Creek, pair Eagle Bluff Lighthouse with Peninsula State Park, Nicolet Bay Beach, Wild Tomato or Not Licked Yet. Use our Fish Creek guide for more ideas.

Near Baileys Harbor, pair The Ridges and Cana Island with a beach stop, ice cream or a boat tour. Near the northern tip, pair a Death’s Door cruise with the Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock or a Washington Island day trip.

For families coming from Milwaukee, start with our Door County with kids guide and then build this lighthouse route into your weekend.

Practical reminders

Download maps before you leave because cell service can be spotty. Bring layers, sunscreen, water shoes for Cana Island, closed-toe shoes for lighthouse stairs and island hikes, and snacks for sites without vendors. In July and August, make restaurant reservations where possible and book boat tours early.

If your family loves hiking, the lighthouse stops pair well with broader Wisconsin trail adventures. For local warm-up hikes before your trip, see our Milwaukee family hiking guide and Ice Age Trail guide.