The Best Door County Lighthouses Tours: Full 2025 Review

The Best Door County Lighthouses Tours: Full 2025 Review

Door County is home to eleven historic lighthouses that have guided sailors through treacherous waters for over 150 years. Consequently, taking one of the many Door County lighthouses tours is a must for any visitor. However, because some lights are only accessible by boat and others are on private property, you must choose your destination carefully. This guide compares the most popular tours to help you decide which one is best for your 2025 trip. Plan your Door County Lighthouses Tours: Which is Best to Visit?

Choosing the right tour can be difficult because each historic light offers a completely different experience. For example, some visitors prefer climbing a 97-step spiral staircase, while others want a relaxing narrated cruise. If you are currently researching Door County Lighthouses Tours: Which is Best to Visit, you have come to the right place. In this post, we compare the accessibility, costs, and unique history of the peninsula’s most iconic stations to ensure you don’t miss a single view.

Cana Island: The Most Iconic Experience

Cana Island is arguably the most famous lighthouse in Wisconsin. Therefore, it is often the first stop for many travelers.

  • The Experience: To reach the island, you must cross a rocky causeway. Fortunately, a complimentary tractor-pulled hay wagon provides rides for those who don’t want to walk through the water. Once there, you can climb the 97-step spiral staircase for a panoramic view of Lake Michigan.
  • 2025 Prices: Adult admission is $12, while children (ages 6-17) are $10.
  • Best For: Families and photographers who want that “classic” Door County shoreline shot.

Eagle Bluff: A Step Back in Time

Located deep within Peninsula State Park, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse offers a glimpse into the life of a 19th-century keeper.

  • The Experience: Unlike the steel towers found elsewhere, this is a beautiful cream-brick residence. Because the Door County Historical Society meticulously maintains the interior, the guided tours feel like walking through a lived-in home from the 1880s.
  • 2025 Prices: Tours cost $7 per person. However, remember that a Wisconsin State Park admission sticker is also required to enter the park.
  • Best For: History buffs and hikers who are already exploring Peninsula State Park.

Boat Tours: Reaching the “Death’s Door” Lights

Some of the most beautiful lights, such as Pilot Island and Plum Island, are closed to the public. Nevertheless, you can still see them up close via a narrated cruise.

  • The Experience: Boat tours depart from Gills Rock and Fish Creek. As a result, you can see multiple lighthouses and shipwrecks in a single afternoon. These tours provide excellent context regarding the dangerous “Death’s Door” passage.
  • Average Cost: Scenic cruises typically range from $39 to $52 depending on the length of the trip.
  • Best For: Travelers who prefer a relaxing, seated experience with professional storytelling.

The Exclusive Access: Lighthouse Passport Days

If you want to see lighthouses that are normally closed to the public—like Sherwood Point or Chambers Island—you must plan your trip around specific weekends.

  • The Event: The Door County Maritime Museum hosts Lighthouse Passport Days in the spring and fall. Specifically, the next major dates are June 6-7, 2025, and October 3-4, 2025.
  • The Benefit: These are the only days when the public can enter active Coast Guard stations and private island lights. Consequently, these tours sell out months in advance.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, the best Door County lighthouses tours depend on your mobility and interest in history. If you want a fun family adventure, head to Cana Island. On the other hand, if you want exclusive access, make sure to book a spot during the Passport Days.

Action: Get Your “Lighthouse Photo Map”

Do you want to know the exact spots where professional photographers take their shots?

Download our Private Guide: “The Ultimate Door County Lighthouse Map.”

We will provide:

  • GPS coordinates for the best “view from the shore” spots.
  • A schedule of all 2025 tour times for mainland-accessible lights.
  • Insider info on which boat tours offer the best sunset views of Eagle Bluff.

Start your maritime adventure. Contact us today for your lighthouse map.

Connect with Our Expertise

Plan Your Maritime Adventure

  • Door County Maritime Museum:dcmm.org
    • The Maritime Museum manages several of the most iconic lights, including Cana Island. Visit their site to find the most current hours of operation, detailed history of each station, and tickets for the exclusive Lighthouse Passport Days events.
Attractions Eric Hegwer