Cana Island Lighthouse — Attraction in Upper Door Peninsula

This was definitely one of our favorite stops our on visit to Door County! I think we spent a total of 2 1/2 - 3 hours from the time we parked our car in the lot on the mainland to the time we returned. The lighthouse was very cool, but the memorable highlight had to be the tractor ride across to the island since the lake water is so deep right now and the waves were roaring over the wagon. We never felt unsafe, but we did get a little wet (some people on the side facing the waves got quite a bit wet, lol).

The island itself is small but beautiful! There are some historic buildings to visit, but we had our dog with us and could not enter the buildings with her (we knew that ahead of time). But my wife and I did take turns going up the lighthouse and that was definitely worth it! The view is spectacular but it was VERY windy. There are quite a few stairs to climb and it's a bit cramped, so it's not for the faint of heart or claustrophobic. There is a hatch at the top, which is pretty large but still a bit uneasy for some people.

There are some exit points around the island that you can walk through, but since the water is so high, you can't walk along the perimeter of the island, but they are still worth checking out just to see the waves crashing and clear lake water. A gorgeous American flag waves alongside the lighthouse. Leashed pets are welcome on the tractor ride and on the island itself, but not inside any of the buildings (including the lighthouse). Before they recently got a bigger tractor, they were not able to take visitors across on some days, but it appears that is no longer a problem!

Overall, I'd say this is a must-see in Door County, but don't plan to spend all day here. You can easily allocate 2-3 hours total and be just fine. There is a charge to get on the island, but there is no charge for the tractor ride, which was great. HIGHLY...

My husband & I stumbled upon this gem one afternoon while driving our motorcycles on our annual vacation in Door County. First off the trip to the Cana Island will not be soon forgot. Normally we were told a person is able to walk from Bailey’s Harbor water edge through ankle deep water (at most) across Lake Michigan to Cana Island. But the water has risen to over 3 feet & a John Deere tractor with a wagon hitched to it took about 16 of us across in approximately 5. minutes. A very bumpy ride as we drove over the rocky bottom. The lake and the island were such a beautiful sight on a warm day, the lake so very clear & clean. Once on the island we paid the fee $12 per adult & proceeded to explore. The lighthouse is 97 steps up & once to the top you step out onto the balcony surrounding the entire diameter of the lighthouse. Awesome views & great pictures of the lake & the grounds from that height! The light house keepers house is part of the lighthouse & is over 100 years old (as is the lighthouse). There are many artifacts, furniture, tools, & a kitchen that are represent of time when the keepers lived there with there families. There is a big restoration starting soon to be completed in 2 years. This is a great trip for kids & family’s as well as us older folks. Our tractor driver was friendly & helpful as well as having a great sense of humor. Tom hade all of us laughing. I know we...

Cana Island lighthouse is one of the many we were lucky enough to tour while vacationing in the area. We dedicated three out of seven full vacation days to visiting Door County and touring small towns, lighthouses, and maritime museums.

The tour was excellent and the walk across the causeway was easy but a little ankle-twisty. We wore good walking shoes but hiking boots with ankle support seemed a better option to navigate the rocky terrain.

You can take the tractor across the causeway, but it was dry when we visited, and still hadn't made it across in the few minutes it took to walk it. Most people of all fitness levels can easily manage if not mobility impaired. I wouldn't recommend the walk if relying on a cane for assistance.

We took the easy stairwell to the top for an excellent view. We are in typical shape for the average, American, early 50s couple - we carry a few extra pounds, and we were able to manage the stairwell easier than we expected.

If you have an aversion to vault toilets and porta potties, be sure to use a public restroom in town before visiting.

The tour and the view are worth the price of admission, the time dedicated, and the effort to get there.

We recommend allotting approximately an hour to an hour and a half time to explore the grounds, take the tour, and shop in...