Four States Fall 2018 - 5 - KITCH-ITI-KIPI, MICHIGAN

We continued on to our second stop at Kitch-iti-Kipi (Ojibwa meaning big or bubbling spring). It is within Palms Book State Park, a nature preserve founded in 1928 and covering 388 acres. In the 1930s, the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) constructed a more passable road to this out-of-the-way spring (M-49 road).

Mike said he visited here as a kid and I had long wanted to stop, but always seemed to be in a hurry coming from or going back home to make the side trip. Today we made time. I have to say it was a bear finding the place and GPS was not much help in this case.

There was one wee sign off U.S. 2, which we blew past the first time. We back-tracked a mile or so and made a turn onto the road we thought was the way. No signs anywhere for Kitch-iti-Kipi after that. Went seven miles and decided we had gone too far somehow. Went back to Hwy 2. Stopped in the tire store and asked directions. Yes, we had gone down the right road, but needed to go a little further and take a left at Betty Brown's General Store. OK, did that and still we were not sure if we had gone the correct way. Finally the road dead-ended and we were there, about six miles further than we had gone initially.

It was good to finally see the welcome sign at the visitors' center.

There was a little store inside selling "Yooper" products, such as these dog toys. Haha! Yooper is a fun term that refers to all things from the U.P., including those born there. So Mike is a Yooper!

After a little browsing and a short walk down the trail, we saw the spring. Didn't look that exciting from shore, but looks can be deceiving. We had to wait a few minutes for our turn on the observation raft, so we read the information signs.

The natural spring's original Native Indian name was Mirror of Heaven. There are several legends on how it got its current name, but you can research that if you are interested. It is the largest spring in Michigan. You can see 40-45 feet down to the bottom. Waters flow year round at a constant 45F degrees. Over 10,000 gallons of water a minute gush from fissures in its limestone and sand bottom.

The odor sometimes noticed near the spring is the result of the water's high sulphate content. Local well-drillers avoid tapping the water in this cataract formation because of that sulphate. I really didn't notice the smell today, but it was near freezing temps and maybe that made the difference.

Here is the raft on the far side of the 200 foot wide spring. The spring is about as deep as the height of the trees you see here (40-45 feet).

It is not known exactly when the raft system started, but there is a photo of a primitive style raft in 1910 on the sites historical literature. The raft is attached to a cable, which is manually manipulated by any of its current passengers. This big boy took the helm on our trip.

He also took our photo on board.

Ducks hang out in the spring. Here they are, bottoms up, feeding in the lush environment.

You can look on the outside of the raft, where waters are tinted green or blue, depending on if you are in sunlight or shadow. Huge fish seem to be suspended in space.

The raft has a portal in its center, where you can easily view fish, fallen trees, bubbling waters, and sand bottom of the spring. 

This is really the best view of the huge and happy fish that hang out here. They looked to be at least 3+ feet long, but that may have been due to the magnifying affect of the water. They are mostly trout--lake, brown, and brook.Yellow perch, walleye, and other species are also spotted from time-to-time. Fish move freely between the spring and nearby Indian Lake. For you fisherpersons...no fishing (or swimming) allowed here!

These photos do not do the beauty of this phenomena justice. You HAVE to see it for yourself!

We did not want to return to the boarding platform for others to have a ride, but alas, time was ticketing. Kitch is considered one of the U.P.'s seven natural wonders and it was fascinating. I have to say this treasure is well hidden, but well worth the side trip. And it is wheelchair accessible.

It is open rain or shine, but I would call in winter to make sure the roads are passable. If you are going there, the coordinates are: 46 degrees 0' 27.68" N by 86 degrees 22' 41.84"  W. Put that in your GPS and smoke it!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitch-iti-kipi