Door County is famous for its lighthouses, and they are scattered along roads that are slow, scenic and easy to get lost on. The Lighthouse Trolley Tour solves the logistics. Over about four and a half hours, the old-time trolley takes you to three of the peninsula's best-known lights: Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Fish Creek, Cana Island Lighthouse near Baileys Harbor, and the Baileys Harbor Range Lights. At each one, you get a private tour, so there is no queuing with the general public and no guessing about what you are looking at. A local guide narrates the ride between the lighthouses, and a made-to-order box lunch, a sandwich, chips and a beverage, is served at one of the historic sites, which turns an ordinary lunch break into one of the more memorable meals of the trip. The tour departs at 10am sharp from the Door County Trolley Station on Highway 42 in Egg Harbor, with an option to be collected from select Egg Harbor hotels at 9:20am for an additional cost. For lighthouse enthusiasts, it is the most efficient way to see three significant sites in a single day. For everyone else, it is a gentle introduction to the maritime history of the peninsula, with stories of keepers, shipwrecks and the navigational problems of a coast where the lake can turn dangerous in minutes. Because you do not have to drive, you can enjoy the scenery between the sites too, and the guide can point out other landmarks on the way.
Planning the day
The operator runs the Lighthouse Tour from June through October on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for ages five and up, with children under five not permitted. Advance purchase is recommended because the tour often sells out, and tickets are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled for any reason.
Whether climbing the towers is included, or whether separate admissions apply, is not spelled out in advance, so ask the operator if you want to climb, since access to the stairs at each lighthouse can vary with the season, staffing and conditions. Groups of six or more can arrange pickup and drop-off by phone.
The three stops
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse sits on a bluff in Peninsula State Park and is a restored light station with a museum that presents the history of the early keepers. Cana Island Lighthouse stands on a small island reached by a sandy causeway near Baileys Harbor, with a spiral staircase of 97 steps to the gallery deck, and it is one of the most photographed lighthouses on the peninsula.
The Baileys Harbor Range Lights are a pair of lights on the shoreline that once guided ships into the harbor, and they stand at the edge of the Ridges Sanctuary. Seeing all three in a day helps you understand how different the navigational problems were from place to place.
Making it count
Wear comfortable walking shoes, because some sites involve gravel, grass or stairs, and bring a layer and sun protection. The trolley is a good fit for older travelers and for anyone who does not want to drive the peninsula's busy summer roads. Pair it with a quiet evening, since a morning start and a lunch included leave you feeling full by mid-afternoon.
If you only have time for one lighthouse experience, choose this one; if you would like a shorter, cheaper taste of the same coast, the Lakeside Scenic Trolley Tour passes the range lights from the windows. Either way, book ahead in July, August and October, and ask about hotel pickup when you reserve.
What to expect
The experience
A guided trolley day of about 4.5 hours visiting three lights, with a private tour at each stop, narration between them and a box lunch served at a historic site.
Best time
A Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning from June to October; September and early October have crisp air and good light.
How long
About 4.5 hours from the 10am departure at the Egg Harbor station.
Tips
Book ahead, wear walking shoes, ask the operator about climbing access, and consider the optional hotel pickup at 9:20am from select Egg Harbor hotels.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Lighthouse fans and first-time visitors who want three famous lights in one easy day.
- Families
- Open to ages five and up, but a 4.5-hour day may be long for younger children.
- Couples
- A relaxed, informative day that ends early enough for dinner or a fish boil.
- Pair with
- A fish boil dinner, the Ghost Trolley Tour that evening, or Ridges Sanctuary.
- Time needed
- Most of the morning and early afternoon.
Good questions
Which lighthouses does the Lighthouse Trolley Tour visit?+
It visits Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Cana Island Lighthouse and the Baileys Harbor Range Lights, with a private tour at each.
How long is the tour and when does it run?+
The tour lasts about 4.5 hours and runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from June through October, leaving at 10am.
Is lunch included?+
Yes. A made-to-order box lunch with a sandwich, chips and a beverage is served at one of the historic lighthouses.
Is hotel pickup available?+
Pickup from select Egg Harbor hotels at 9:20am is offered for an additional cost, and groups of six or more can arrange pickup and drop-off by phone.
Can I climb the towers?+
Climbing arrangements are not spelled out on the tour page, so ask the operator when you book. Cana Island Lighthouse has a 97-step staircase when it is open to climbers.