Apostle Islands Course — Enrollment Deposit (non-refundable)

Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands encompass an archipelago of 22 islands at the tip of the Bayfield Peninsula. Twelve miles of mainland shoreline and 21 islands make up Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Eighty per cent of the national lakeshore is designated wilderness. 

We have been exploring Apostle Islands since 1985, camping, hiking, and sea kayaking. This course will introduce you to some of the features that we love about the islands: sea caves, beach dunes and sandspits, lighthouses, bogs and lagoons. We hope to see eagles, loons, and sandhill cranes; bears are good at avoiding people, so sightings are rare but possible. The course will include our multi-media presentations and talks on geology, island biogeography, ecology and history of the area.  Other experts will also give talks. 

Lodging and meals will be provided by Bayfield Inn on Lake Superior. We have reserved all Lake View rooms. (Two hot tub suite rooms are available and can be reserved for an additional $20/night.)

Presentations and meeting will be in Bayfield Inn’s Dock Shop Meeting Space, on Lake Superior with “panoramic harbor views.” 

Tentative Itinerary

Sunday — 4:30PM Orientation in Dock Shop Meeting Space, followed by Dinner and Multi-media presentation.

Monday — Morning talks by John & Ann, followed by a picnic lunch at Little Sand Bay. In the afternoon, we have the opportunity to sea kayak to mainland sea caves, guided by trained instructors at Lost Creek Adventures; the alternate activity for anyone choosing not to kayak will be a guided hike above the sea caves. Evening program following dinner at Bayfield Inn.

Tuesday — Morning talks, followed by a 2:15PM boat cruise to Raspberry Island, where we can tour a lighthouse and hike to a sand spit. Evening program following dinner at Bayfield Inn.

Wednesday — We will spend the day on Stockton Island, hiking to Julian Bay, with its expansive “singing sand” beach, bogs, lagoons, a variety of birds, beach dunes, and rocky Lake Superior shores. Evening program following dinner at Bayfield Inn.

Thursday — Guided hikes on the Bayfield Peninsula, with a stop at Great Lakes Visitor Center for a picnic lunch and interesting exhibits. Dinner at Bayfield Inn.

Friday — Free time in the morning for packing and checking out of your room, then we will gather in the Dock Shop Meeting Space for a farewell luncheon and final ceremony.