Lighthouse Legends: Exploring the Range Lights of Baileys Harbor
Door County’s dramatic shoreline and rich maritime history make it a top destination for lighthouse lovers. Among the area’s most iconic beacons are the Baileys Harbor Range Lights and the Cana Island Lighthouse—two landmarks best experienced together from the water. On our Baileys Harbor Scenic Tour, you’ll enjoy up-close views of both, along with fascinating stories from Door County’s nautical past.
What Are the Baileys Harbor Range Lights?
Located within the protected landscape of The Ridges Sanctuary, the Baileys Harbor Range Lights are a rare, still-operating pair of lighthouses built in 1869 to safely guide ships into what was once a very busy port. These two lights—known as the Front (Lower) Range Light and Rear (Upper) Range Light—work together to lead vessels through dangerous offshore shoals and into deep water.
The system is ingenious in its simplicity. The red light in the Lower Range Light is positioned 17 feet below the white light in the Upper Range Light. When mariners line up the two lights vertically—one directly above the other—they know they’re on the correct course. This alignment ensures safe passage, keeping ships in deep water and away from the rocky hazards that fringe Baileys Harbor.
These lights are visible up to four miles out into Lake Michigan, and incredibly, they are still in operation today, continuing to serve mariners just as they did over 150 years ago.
From 1869 to 1923, eight different lighthouse keepers and their families lived in the Range Lights, tending the lamps daily. After automation, the story of the lights didn’t end. When electricity was installed in 1930, the Lutheran Church in Baileys Harbor leased the Upper Range Light, using it as a parsonage until the early 1960s. Later, The Ridges Sanctuary took on stewardship, leasing the building as housing for naturalists and later as staff offices until the Nature Center opened in 2015.
Today, both lights remain preserved and maintained by The Ridges, surrounded by scenic boardwalks, boreal forest, and protected shoreline.
Docent-Led Range Light Tours
The Ridges Sanctuary offers guided, docent-led tours of the Upper and Lower Range Lights from late May through mid-October. These engaging tours invite guests to step inside the lighthouse structures, climb the tower, and learn about the lights’ role in local maritime safety and community life.
The Resident Docent Program
Beyond public tours, The Ridges also runs a Resident Docent Program, a seasonal opportunity where volunteers live on-site and serve as stewards of the historic property. These trained docents support tours, engage with visitors, and help care for the structures during the busy summer season. It’s a unique way to connect more deeply with Door County’s history, ecology, and community.
Shoreline Boat Tours is proud to partner with The Ridges Sanctuary as one of our primary educational collaborators, supporting their mission of preservation, education, and access to Baileys Harbor’s rich natural and cultural history.
See the Range Lights and Cana Island Lighthouse by Boat
Our Baileys Harbor Scenic Tour offers close-up views of both the Baileys Harbor Range Lights and the Cana Island Lighthouse (as well as the Baileys Harbor lighthouse “The Birdcage”!). From the water, you’ll gain the same perspective 19th-century mariners had as they navigated the coast—plus the added bonus of insightful narration and dramatic views.
Your captain and guide will share stories of lighthouse keepers, local shipwrecks, and the evolution of maritime safety along Lake Michigan’s wild shoreline. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a Door County regular, this experience offers a fresh and unforgettable lens into the peninsula’s past.
Cana Island Lighthouse: A Door County Landmark
Standing tall since 1870, the Cana Island Lighthouse is one of the most iconic structures in all of Door County. Its 89-foot white brick tower, capped by a black lantern, has guided ships for over 150 years and still functions as a working navigational aid.
Cana Island is connected to the mainland by a rocky causeway that often disappears beneath the waves—making access an adventure in itself. While many visitors explore it on foot, nothing compares to seeing this majestic lighthouse from the water, where its full silhouette and shoreline setting come into view.
Why Lighthouses Are a Must-See in Door County
Lighthouses are more than just scenic stops—they’re the soul of Door County’s maritime legacy. These structures speak to a time when lives depended on the light, and every beam told a story of survival and connection.
When you cruise with Shoreline Boat Tours, you’re not just sightseeing—you’re stepping into a piece of living history. Our Baileys Harbor Scenic Tour is the only experience that offers narrated, up-close views of both the Baileys Harbor Range Lights and Cana Island Lighthouse, bringing together storytelling, natural beauty, and cultural heritage in one unforgettable journey.
Reserve your seat today and explore Door County’s lighthouse legends with us—onboard the water where their stories began.
