Isle Royale–Keweenaw Course Details
June 27–July 3, 2027
This lifelong learning course will begin in Houghton, MI at Wyndham Super 8 Motel (waterfront rooms on the Portage Canal),
with transportation between Houghton and Isle Royale on the NPS vessel Ranger III.
Wyndham Super 8 Motel (1200 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton,Michigan, 49931, Phone: 906-482-2240)
Check-in time is 3PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Internet access, television
Complimentary breakfast
Swimming pool and hot tub
Laundry facilities
The hotel is completely smoke-free. In limited designated zones, smoking is exclusively permitted.
The Orientation Session begins at 4PM on Sunday, June 27 in the Super 8 Meeting Room, followed by dinner and a program.
Note for Arrivals by Airplane and Early Arrivals:
If participants plan to arrive by airplane, the airport is CMX — Houghton County Airport. Participants are responsible for transportation from the airport to the motel..
Flights into Houghton County Airport are limited and we recommend coming on the day before the course begins (Saturday), since trying to come Sunday often means you would arrive late enough to miss all the Sunday afternoon/evening activities.
Others appreciate an early arrival after a long drive, or for time to explore ahead of the course. If you wish to arrive early and would like to take advantage of our group price on the Saturday evening before the course starts, contact us and we’ll reserve an early arrival room for you and add the cost ($160) to your bill.
Ranger III
Transportation to Isle Royale from Houghton is on the 165-foot-long National Park Service vessel Ranger III. The 73-mile journey to Rock Harbor takes about 6 hours. While we are on the island, our cars remain in the gated parking lot at the Ranger III dock/Isle Royale National Park Visitor Center.
The course ends when the Ranger III arrives back in Houghton, soon after 3PM on Saturday.
Rock Harbor Lodge
Lodging on Isle Royale is at Rock Harbor Lodge, with lakeside rooms that directly overlook Lake Superior. Luggage is delivered to your room. The Rock Harbor Lodge complex includes a restaurant, the Greenstone Grill, a gift shop, canoe rental, Guest House, an auditorium, etc.
Double Occupancy
Lodging is reserved as double occupancy rooms. Other arrangements may or may not be possible — contact us to see what is available. If available, there is an additional charge to guarantee single occupancy.
What to Expect
Weather and temperature — be prepared for early spring (40 degree) to mid-summer temperatures, rain, and fog. Weather can be very changeable throughout the day, so be prepared with clothing that can be layered, to enable you to adjust to weather changes. Bringing good rain gear will enable you to enjoy the island even when the sun is not shining.
Isle Royale is an isolated place, and it is important to be aware that obtaining emergency medical treatment can be a matter of several hours, possibly much more. There is no pharmacy, no public telephone, and cell phone reception is not dependable. (Leaders do communicate with radios while on hikes.) Internet access is available in your Rock Harbor Lodge room.
Trails on Isle Royale are rocky, with very uneven footing. (Around the Rock Harbor Lodge area, trails are paved or gravel.) Day hikes can be as long as 5 miles. While many do make the 5-mile day hikes over uneven terrain, we work with folks to be flexible, providing options to make it the best trip possible; we are happy to make suggestions for ways to adjust to your own abilities and preferences. We encourage you to contact us if you have concerns or questions.
Rock Harbor Lodge has modern facilities, but be prepared to use outhouses when on day-trips.
If you are a smoker, smoke downwind and away from the group; carry out all cigarette butts, matches, etc.
Isle Royale has many gifts to offer, and most of them come when we are quiet, calm, mindful and alert to what is happening around us (wildlife sightings are a good example). Come with open and inquisitive minds and hearts.
Course includes all lodging, meals (except alcoholic drinks), Keweenaw coach tour, entrance fees, lectures and programs, guided day hikes, tours on Isle Royale sightseeing boat, and transportation between Houghton and Isle Royale. These are small groups — maximum 17 participants.
We give a 40% discount on our book, Lake Superior: Story and Spirit, to participants in our courses.
Isle Royale–Keweenaw Course Price — $3,429.00, payable in 3 payments of $1143.00.
Travel Insurance and Cancellation Policy:
We understand that life happens and that sometimes circumstances may necessitate the need to cancel. Unfortunately, we can not offer refunds unless we are able to fill your spot with someone on the waiting list. We strongly recommend travel insurance to cover your costs if you have to cancel, and recommend looking for "Cancel For Any Reason (COFR)" polices and Pre-Existing Condition waivers.
Ready to join us?
June 27–July 3, 2027
Total course price = $3,429 (payable in 3 non-refundable payments):
$1143.00 non-refundable Deposit due at Enrollment
$1143.00 due February 27, 2027
$1143.00 due April 27, 2027
Travel Insurance and Cancellation Policy:
We understand that life happens and that sometimes circumstances may necessitate the need to cancel. Unfortunately, we can not offer refunds unless we are able to fill your spot with someone on the waiting list. We strongly recommend travel insurance to cover your costs if you have to cancel. For more information and suggestions about travel insurance, see Isle Royale-Keweenaw Course Details.
We also strongly recommend travel insurance to defray extra costs that might be associated with ferry delays. As you plan your travel connections after this course, please keep in mind that delays in ferry service are uncommon, but do occasionally happen. In all our courses, this has only happened once, but when the ferry was unable to make the crossing and we had to stay an extra night at Rock Harbor Lodge, some participants’ insurance did not cover those costs because it was at the end of the trip. Thus, it is important to have insurance that covers trip delays/trip interruption. In talking with various insurance representatives, we’re told that it’s best to get insurance that covers you from the time you leave home to the time you return home — that prevents the “end of the trip” exception. They also recommend “Trip Delay” coverage for any ferry delays. Different policies state different amounts of time that need to pass before Trip Delay coverage takes effect.
There are many travel insurance companies available, but one we have had experience with is Travel Guard, They offer different insurance options, so do look into the choices. Allianz Travel Insurance is also a reliable company with reasonable rates.
It’s a good idea to compare a number of different travel insurance companies. You can do that on squaremouth.com — a search on that website allows you to filter for only policies that include Trip Delay coverage. The search results also show the companies’ ratings and a number of other helpful comparisons.
Another option is Travelinsurance.com, where you can get quotes for coverage from several different providers and get all your questions answered about different levels of coverage, such as "Cancel For Any Reason (COFR)" polices and Pre-Existing Condition waivers.
Please check out travel insurance and protect your travel investment.