Updated July 2026
Door County Lighthouses: Which Ones to Visit
Door County has one of the highest concentrations of lighthouses anywhere in the country, but "visit a lighthouse" can mean wildly different things depending on which one you pick. Some you can climb to the top. One you can really only admire from a distance. And one requires two ferries and a hike before you've even seen it.
Rather than sort these by location, it makes more sense to sort them by effort — how much of a project you want lighthouse-hunting to become on this trip.
- The climbable lighthouses run guided tours seasonally — Cana Island's typically runs May through October — and are closed the rest of the year. Confirm exact dates before you go.
- Eagle Bluff sits inside Peninsula State Park, so you'll need a state park vehicle sticker to get to it.
- Sherwood Point is not open to the public — don't plan a special trip expecting to go inside.
- Pottawatomie is a half-day undertaking at minimum, not a casual stop on the way to somewhere else.
Cana Island Lighthouse
The classic climbOf the four lighthouses on this list, Cana Island is the one built for climbing, and that's the whole draw: 97 narrow spiral steps up an 1869 tower, with Lake Michigan opening up wide once you reach the top. Where Eagle Bluff is more of a stroll-through stop and the other two are look-only, this is the one where the physical climb itself is the point — go in expecting stairs, not just a photo op.
Getting to the tower is part of the experience too: a causeway crossing that's sometimes on foot and sometimes by hay wagon depending on water levels, which is half the fun rather than a hassle. The tour runs seasonally, typically May through October, so go early in the day if you can — it's a popular stop with a small parking area.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Easiest to pair with a park dayEagle Bluff sits right inside Peninsula State Park on a bluff over Green Bay, which makes it the easy add-on rather than a separate errand. Built in 1868, it runs seasonal guided tours of the lighthouse and keeper's quarters, so if you're already at the park for the beach or the bike trail, it's worth folding in rather than treating as its own trip.
Just remember you'll need a state park vehicle sticker to get in, since the lighthouse is inside Peninsula State Park's gates. Confirm tour times before you go, since they're seasonal and can shift.
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
The one you view, not visitSherwood Point sits at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay and is often cited as the last lighthouse on the Great Lakes to be staffed by the Coast Guard rather than fully automated, which makes it a genuinely interesting bit of history. But it's on active, private grounds and isn't generally open for public tours or climbing.
Treat this one as a distant view or a fun fact to know about rather than a stop to build a visit around — it's best seen from the water or from a distance, not up close. Don't make a special trip expecting to go inside.
Pottawatomie Lighthouse
The expeditionPottawatomie, often cited as Wisconsin's oldest lighthouse, sits on Rock Island, which means getting there takes a passenger ferry from Washington Island (itself reached by the main car ferry from the mainland), then a hike once you land — no cars allowed on Rock Island. This is a real undertaking, not something you fit in on the way to lunch.
Block out at least half a day, bring good shoes, and go in because you genuinely want to say you made it, not as a quick add-on to a broader Door County itinerary.
Setting expectations
Sherwood Point earns its spot on this list because it's a genuinely interesting piece of Great Lakes history — often cited as the last Coast Guard-crewed lighthouse on the Great Lakes — but it's a look-don't-touch entry. It's on active, non-public grounds, so this one is for completeness and curiosity, not for planning an actual stop around.
How to pick
Start with how much effort you want this to take, not which lighthouse is closest to where you're staying. If you're already spending a day at Peninsula State Park, Eagle Bluff is a natural add-on. If lighthouses are the whole point of your day, Cana Island delivers the classic climb-and-view experience. Pottawatomie is for someone who really wants to say they did it. For more ways to fill a Door County day, see our things to do guide.
A couple of honest tips
Seasonal tour schedules shift year to year and can be weather-dependent, so confirm hours before you drive out, especially early or late in the season. And again: pick your lighthouse based on the kind of day you want, not just proximity — the closest one isn't always the right one.