Visiting Door County lighthouses is likely to be a highlight of your vacation here. Lighthouses have inspired admiration and captured imaginations from ancient times. From Alexandria’s lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, to today’s navigational beacons, lighthouses have stood as testaments to human ingenuity, given comfort to those in the chaos of the seas, and guided to safety those in danger. Lighthouses delight all sorts of people: history buffs, romantic souls fascinated by the rustic and secluded lives of the keepers, tech geeks, nature lovers in search of beautiful scenes, and even social media influencers seeking out the most Instagrammable sights possible.
With eleven lighthouses, Door County is one of the best places in the world to explore lighthouses. This post will tell you everything you need to know to jumpstart your lighthouse pursuits on your next Door County vacation.
Read on for everything you need to know about the elusive and inspiring Door County lighthouses that allure visitors from around the world.
Are you planning a trip to Door County? Make sure to check out our post on Door County’s best hotels for your stay.
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The Complete List of All Door County Lighthouses
Here is a list of all eleven Door County lighthouses:
- Baileys Harbor Range Lights
- Old Baileys Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse
- Cana Island Lighthouse
- Chambers Island Lighthouse
- Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
- Pilot Island Lighthouse
- Plum Island Lighthouse
- Pottawatomie (Rock Island) Lighthouse
- Sherwood Point Lighthouse
- Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse
- Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse
Door County Lighthouses Open to the Public
The three Door County Lighthouses that are open to the public and have tours are:
While the buildings are generally closed to the public, the grounds around the following lighthouses are usually open to the public:
- Baileys Harbor Range Lights
- Chambers Island Lighthouse
- Plum Island Lighthouse
- Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse
- Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse
Potential visitors should remember that the Chambers Island and Plum Island lighthouses are not accessible from the mainland and require transportation by boat.
Door County Lighthouses Closed to the Public
The grounds to the following lighthouses are closed to the public, and these lighthouses can usually only be viewed from the water:
Door County Lighthouses Map
Door County Lighthouse Festival
A great time to visit Door County lighthouses is during the annual Door County Lighthouse Festival run by the Door County Maritime Museum. Some of the lighthouses that are normally closed to the public are made available for viewing and tours.
Door County’s 11 Lighthouses
Baileys Harbor Range Lights
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1869
- Automated in 1923
- Decommissioned in 1969
The Baileys Harbor Range Lights were designed and built to help mariners navigate the difficult passage into the safety of Baileys Harbor. Consisting of an upper light higher on a hill and a lower light below, safe passage could be assured when the two lights were aligned with each other.
This rendered the Old Baileys Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse obsolete, leading to its decommissioning.
The residence of the Baileys Harbor Range Lights was used as a church parsonage from 1930-1956 and as a private residence until 1965.
The grounds of the Baileys Harbor Range Lights are accessible by visiting the Ridges Sanctuary. A $5 fee applies. Tours are available from early June through mid-October. Check the Ridges website for more information.
For More Information:
For more information, check out our detailed post on the Baileys Harbor Range Lights.
Old Baileys Harbor Birdcage Light House
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1852
- Decommissioned in 1869
- Located on the privately owned “Lighthouse Island”
Despite its short life as an active lighthouse, Old Baileys Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse has deep connections to Door County’s history. Baileys Harbor was “discovered” when Captain Justice Bailey weathered a storm here in 1848. Venturing ashore, he discovered that the land around the harbor was resource-rich, with good timber and a promising place for a limestone quarry. He reported these findings to the owner of the shipping company for which he worked, Alanson Sweet.
Sweet capitalized on this discovery and established lumber and quarry operations out of Baileys Harbor. Using his powerful political connections, he convinced the Wisconsin State Legislature to establish Door County with Baileys Harbor as the first county seat, and he secured a contract from the United States Congress to build a lighthouse with stone from his own quarry! Construction commenced in 1852.
The lighthouse deteriorated quickly and was technologically surpassed by the Baileys Harbor Range Lights and thus was decommissioned in 1869, only seventeen short years after it was constructed.
The island on which the lighthouse sits is private property. Good views are only possible from the water. Some commercial boat tours enable views of this lighthouse.
For More Information
For more information about the Old Baileys Harbor Birdcage lighthouse, check out our in-depth post.
Cana Island Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1869
- Automated in 1944
- Still an operational navigational aid under the authority of the Coast Guard
- Open for tours
Towering 89 feet into the air, the Cana Island Lighthouse is a favorite destination for visitors to Door County. Of all Door County Lighthouses, this is the most popular.
Both the keeper’s house and the tower were built of cream city brick, but the extreme weather conditions on Lake Michigan caused the tower to deteriorate quickly. Because of this, the tower was clad in steel plates, with concrete poured in the gaps between the steel plates and the old brick walls of the tower. Few visitors realize that the tower and the home are made of the same material.
Access to the grounds of the Cana Island Lighthouse is free, but tours of the interior, which include an opportunity to climb the 97 steps to the top of the tower, come with a fee. Check the website of the Door County Maritime Museum, which owns the Cana Island Lighthouse, for up-to-date information on fees, tour times, etc.
Getting to the grounds of the lighthouse is likely to be quite memorable! A shallow causeway connects the island to the mainland, and in many water conditions, this causeway is underwater. Some brave souls will cross this causeway on foot, but the Door County Maritime Museum offers free tractor-wagon rides across the causeway.
For More Information
For more information, check out our post on the Cana Island Lighthouse.
Chambers Island Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1868
- Automated in 1955
- Grounds are open, but the buildings are generally closed to the public
Chambers Island is 7.5 miles off the shore of Door County in Green Bay. It is an inhabited island, though services are sparse: there is no commercial electricity on the island!
The Chambers Island Lighthouse was constructed on the west side of Chambers Island in 1868 to assist mariners in making the Chambers Island Passage. At that time, it was uncommon to attempt the Strawberry Islands Channel to the east.
Except for the octagonal tower, the Chambers Island Lighthouse is nearly identical to the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. The towers of the two lighthouses were given different shapes to assist mariners in identifying them.
The grounds are open to the public, as they are a park of the Town of Gibraltar. According to the website of the Town of Gibraltar, the lighthouse is open to the public when a volunteer is on site.
Getting There
The grounds around the Chambers Island Lighthouse are accessible either by private boat or charter boat. This is public land, so landing at the lighthouse site is permissible. Green Bay is generally calmer and safer than Lake Michigan, but caution is still advised. Only experienced and well-outfitted boaters should attempt making passage to Chambers Island. The Town of Gibraltar maintains a public boat dock at the lighthouse.
For More Information
For more information, check out our comprehensive post about the Chambers Island Lighthouse.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1868
- Automated in 1926
- Inside Peninsula State Park
- Open for tours
Built to assist mariners navigating through the Strawberry Channel of Green Bay, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is one of the most accessible lighthouses in Door County. 76 feet above Green Bay, the light still guides mariners during the shipping season and snowmobilers on the ice in the winter. It flashes for one second with a six-second delay, a code that helps to identify the light and its position.
The lighthouse has been restored by the Door County Historical Society. The Historical Society also runs tours, which include a climb up the tower.
Given its location inside Peninsula State Park, with a road leading to it, parking, and maintained walkways, this is the most accessible lighthouse in Door County. Admission fees to Peninsula State Park apply, and the Historical Society charges fees for tours.
For More Information
For more information, check out our comprehensive post about the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.
Pilot Island Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1858
- Automated in 1962
- Still operational
- Originally located on Plum Island
Known as the “Porte des Morts” (Door of Death) Light, this light was built on Pilot Island in 1858. Originally located on Plum Island in 1846, it was moved to Pilot Island as mariners indicated that a light further east would be more helpful in making passage through Death’s Door. The light is located in a tower that protrudes from the roofline of a two-story keeper’s house. It is about 46 feet above Lake Michigan.
Pilot Island is under the authority of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Green Bay National Wildlife Reserve. Visits to Pilot Island are not permitted.
Views of the Pilot Island Lighthouse are possible from the Northport ferry dock at the very tip of the Door Peninsula or on the Washington Island Ferry. A good set of binoculars or a spotting scope is necessary. Some private charter outfits are also offering cruises that get quite close to the lighthouse.
For More Information
For more information, check out our comprehensive post about the Pilot Island Lighthouse.
Plum Island
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1895
- Automated in 1969
- Located in a National Wildlife Sanctuary
A set of range lights located on Plum Island guides mariners through the infamous “Death’s Door” passage to this day. Consisting of a lower “front light” 32 feet above lake level and a higher “rear light” 80 feet above lake level, mariners visually align the two lights one above the other in order to make safe passage from Lake Michigan to Green Bay through Death’s Door. The range between the two lights is 1,650 feet.
Plum Island was also once the location of a lifesaving station. The structure is still standing and is historically significant as a “Duluth-style” lifesaving station, one of only four such structures still existing in the world, and the only one on the Great Lakes. Efforts are being made by the Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands to restore this majestic and inspiring building.
The most common way to see the Plum Island lights is via the Washington Island Ferry as it makes its passage between Washington Island and the Door Peninsula. This will be from a distance, however, so binoculars are a good idea to have on hand.
More adventurous types can visit the island, however. Plum Island is a part of the Green Bay Refuge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, which permits visits during daylight hours in the summer months. Check their website for the most up-to-date information. Except for a boat dock, facilities on the island are non-existent, and passage to the island is difficult, so only well-prepared and outfitted visitors should attempt this.
Visitors can get to the island by private boat or kayak. However, only experienced and well-outfitted boaters should attempt this. The Friends of Plum and Pilot Island are offering private charters to the island for those unable to make the passage privately.
For More Information
Check out our comprehensive post about the Plum Island Lighthouse to learn more about this iconic light.
Pottawatomie (Rock Island) Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1836
- Automated in 1956
- Located on Rock Island
- Wisconsin’s oldest lighthouse
- Open for tours
Visiting the Rock Island Lighthouse, Wisconsin’s oldest lighthouse, entails a courageous journey involving two ferries, a trip across Washington Island, and hike across Rock Island. These efforts are handsomely rewarded with a stunning view, historical knowledge, and an experience few can boast of.
In 1832, a group of about thirty merchants and shipowners from Detroit petitioned Congress to establish a light marking the Rock Island Passage, the widest passage between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Congress appropriated $8,000 for the construction of a 30-foot tower on the northern bluff of Rock Island, and it was constructed in 1836.
The current structure was built in 1858 after the original structure had badly deteriorated. It is a two-story stone house with an eight-foot tower on the north gable. This structure has been lovingly restored by the Friends of Rock Island, and free tours are available during the summer months.
While on Rock Island, take a swim on the beautiful sand beach for a rare and refreshing beach experience.
Getting There
The Pottawatomie Lighthouse is located on Rock Island State Park.
While worth it, getting to Rock Island requires some advance planning. Most visitors will need to take the Washington Island Ferry from Gills Rock on the Door Peninsula to Detroit Harbor on Washington Island.
From Detroit Harbor on the south side of Washington Island, you will need to travel to Jackson Harbor on the north side. This is about an eight-mile trip. You can walk this distance, and some people do. But, you will probably want some sort of wheels, as you will be traveling on roads. Most people take their cars to Washington Island, but a less expensive option is to leave your car at Gills Rock and take a bicycle to Washington Island.
From Jackson Harbor on Washington Island, you will take Rock Island Ferry to Rock Island. The vessel that makes this passage is a small, passenger-only ferry.
You can take your own boat to Rock Island but exercise much caution. Only the most experienced and well-outfitted boaters should attempt to make this passage, as these waters are extremely treacherous; you will be crossing the infamous Death’s Door. While sea kayakers will be able to pull their vessels up on land, motor boaters will need to pay for mooring on Rock Island, and reservations are not available.
Rock Island State Park is one of the few Wisconsin State Parks for which a vehicle admission sticker is not required, because you can’t drive to Rock Island.
Once on Rock Island, take the Thordarson Loop Trail north to visit the lighthouse.
Rock Island State Park is worth a visit not only to visit the lighthouse, but it also has a beautiful sand beach and a beautiful and historic boathouse, and it boasts one of the most unique camping experiences in the Lower 48.
For More Information
For more information, check out our post on the Pottawattomie Lighthouse and also our post on Rock Island State Park.
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
Quick Facts
- Built in 1883
- Automated in 1983
- Last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes
- Only Door County lighthouse built with red brick instead of the customary cream city brick
- Generally not open to the public
The Sherwood Point Lighthouse played a crucial role in the development of Sturgeon Bay as a major port in the Great Lakes. Until the construction of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Sturgeon Bay was a relatively minor port on the Great Lakes due to its seasonality, as it was heavily iced in most winters. However, when the ship canal was set to be built, it became necessary to construct navigational aids, and this lighthouse helped mark the west side of the north entrance to Sturgeon Bay.
The Sherwood Point Lighthouse is owned by the Coast Guard and is not open to the public. However, it is part of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program of the Coast Guard and thus is available to members of the military to rent as a vacation home. Additionally, access may be available during the Door County Maritime Museum’s annual Lighthouse Festivals.
For More Information
For more information, check out our post on the Sherwood Point Lighthouse.
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1881
- Automated in 1972
There’s just something about the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse that connects with the soul. While it is not the biggest or most architecturally sophisticated Door County lighthouse, there’s something about its ruggedness and its courageous position, far out into the waters of Lake Michigan, that connects with people. Despite being relatively small, this is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Door County, and easily recognizable from its frequent use in Door County literature and on people’s Instagram feeds.
Built in 1881 to guide ships into the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, the Pierhead Lighthouse is 35 feet above the waters of Lake Michigan. It is painted red given its status as a navigational aid right on the channel leading into the ship canal. Maritime navigational buoys have a color system: when returning from the sea, red buoys should stay on the right of your ship, and the green buoys should stay on your left. (The old nmemonic device to remember this is the alliterative “Red on the right when returning from the sea.”) This color scheme has been extended to this light.
The inside of the lighthouse is not generally available for public tour, although good views are available from the public access to the breakwater. To get here, take County Road TT east from the city of Sturgeon Bay until it makes a sharp left turn at the Coast Guard station. A gravel parking lot is located at this turn. A walkway continue straight ahead, with a yellow line down the middle. Make sure to stay on the left side of the yellow line, as veering to the right puts you on Coast Guard property.
Good views are also available from the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve, and this is a nice spot for a quick dip in Lake Michigan.
For More Information
For more information, check out our comprehensive post on the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse.
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1899
- Automated in 1972
This light was built in 1899 when it became evident that the North Pierhead Light House, while useful, was not sufficient to help guide ships to the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal from Lake Michigan. Piercing 107 feet into the air above Lake Michigan, it is an impressive and striking structure, although the structure as it currently stands has changed quite drastically from when it was originally constructed. The external bracing on this lighthouse was not added until 1903 and was put in place to solve a vibration problem. The original engineering did not adequately stand up to the rigors posed by Lake Michigan’s strong winds.
The inside of the lighthouse is not generally available for public tour, although good views are available from the public access to the breakwater. To get here, take County Road TT east from the city of Sturgeon Bay until it makes a sharp left turn at the Coast Guard station. A gravel parking lot is located at this turn. A walkway continue straight ahead, with a yellow line down the middle. Make sure to stay on the left side of the yellow line, as veering to the right puts you on Coast Guard property.
Good views are also available from the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve. Click here for a map to the Nature Preserve.
For More Information
For more information about this lighthouse, check out our comprehensive post on the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 11 lighthouses in Door County, Wisconsin. These historic structures played an important role in guiding ships through the treacherous waters of Lake Michigan during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Visitors can climb the stairs to the top of some of Door County’s lighthouses, but not all. For example, the Cana Island Lighthouse offers visitors the chance to climb its 97 steps for a stunning panoramic view of Lake Michigan and the surrounding area.
The oldest lighthouse in Door County is the Pottawatomie Lighthouse on Rock Island, which was built in 1836. This lighthouse is also the oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin, and it played a critical role in guiding ships through the dangerous waters near the Door Peninsula. Visitors can tour the lighthouse and learn about its history and significance.
Summary
- Door County has 11 lighthouses.
- The Cana Island Lighthouse, Eagle Point Lighthouse, and Pottawatomie (Rock Island) Lighthouse are open to the public.
- Visiting lighthouses is a popular activity in Door County.
- Door County has one of the highest concentrations of lighthouses in the United States.
