Apostle Islands Course — July 13-18, 2025
John & Ann Mahan, Instructors
Since 2002, John and Ann Mahan have been instructors for lifelong learning courses at Isle Royale and Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Beginning in 2025, John and Ann are offering a lifelong learning course in Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands — 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.
The Mahans have been exploring Apostle Islands since 1985, camping, hiking, and sea kayaking. This course will introduce you to some of the features that they 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 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.
Double occupancy rooms are all Lakeside. Private rooms (additional cost) are limited, and some private rooms do not have water views. Two Lakeside hot tub suite rooms 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.”
The course is currently filled, but if you sign up for the Wait List we will notify you if openings occur.
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.
Total course price = $2,567
$300 non-refundable Deposit due at Enrollment
Final payment due 60 days before course start date
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation 30 days or more prior to course start date — all refunded except $300 non-refundable deposit
Cancellation 11-29 days prior to course start date — 50% refunded
Cancellation 10 days or less prior to course start date — no refund
To enroll: Enrollment Deposit
Do feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
The course is currently filled, but please sign up for the Wait List and we will notify you if openings occur.
We are planning a 2026 Apostle Islands Course, dates to be determined —
join our mailing list for updates.
Note: From 2002 to 2019, John and Ann were leaders/instructors for 40 "Isle Royale, Lake Superior, and the Keweenaw Peninsula" Road Scholar (Elderhostel) courses until the courses were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. John and Ann are now offering lifelong learning courses (Isle Royale and Apostle Islands) through Sweetwater Visions. Please contact Sweetwater Visions to be put on a list for updates.