MICHIGAN TALES : Kitch-iti-kipi ~ Michigan's Largest Fresh Water Spring

Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

Only a short 103 miles west from the Mackinac Bridge, (and I say short because there is a lot to see and do between the two destinations) and a little north off of Highway 2, a little west of Manistique, Michigan is a place so majestic and so peaceful you would think you were in Paradise, except Paradise is north of the bridge. This place is called Kitch-iti-kipi, which has a few meanings: "Mirror to Heaven" "Big Cold Water" or "the Big Spring." A person has to pay for a state park parking pass (or pay for the recreation passport when renewing a license plate) but the rest of park is free. Perfect for anyone's budget.

DISCOVERY

In the early 1920's, a time after WWI and before the Great Depression, John I. Bellaire came upon the land to open up a Five and Dime store in Manistique. Logging was a popular occupation in the Upper Peninsula. When Bellaire seen the property, loggers have left the area looking rather shabby, with piles of trash left behind and vegetation over growing the area. Being a man who loved nature, Bellaire helped clean up the area. He was mesmerized by the bubbling spring and clear waters. He knew the spring should be shared by many.

Sign at the park
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

In 1926, Palms Book Land Company sold close to 90 acres, including the cool springs to the State of Michigan for only $10 with the promise that it will always stay state owned. Over the course of time, the State of Michigan also purchased land around the area bringing the Palms Book State Park to 308 acres.

With the help of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal Plan, the Civilian Conservation Corps was able to construct an observation raft, docks, as well as a concession stand for visitors to enjoy. Mr. Bellaire, himself, enjoyed showing the spring to those who came by to visit.

The raft that is self-propelled that goes over the spring.
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

View of the waiting dock. You can see how clear the water is with the reflection
of the trees above, The wait was not too long, especially in July.
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019.

On board the roof-covered raft, it helps make looking into the water clearer.
It is not overly crowded and easy to move around on the raft.
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

Operating the raft is volunteered base by the visitors.
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

Rules to follow while visiting Kitch-iti-kipi
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

The rafts have improved with time. Now it is a self guided raft that pulls from one side of the pool to the other side with the use of a volunteer from someone on the raft. There is a large cut out in the middle of the raft to make it easier for visitors to look down deep into the cool, constant, 45 degree waters.

THE SPRING

Kitch-iti-kipi is 200 feet across and 45 feet deep. The waters are so clear that it is easy to see all the way down to the bottom and view the white sulfate-preserved logs and the many variety of trout swimming below. No need to pull out your fishing pole as fishing is not allowed at this state park and neither is swimming. You can, however, fish and swim in Indian Lake, that is connected to the spring by a small creek. Near the middle, a person can see the bubbling spring pushing out 10,000 gallons of water per minute as it churns up the floor bed, giving a geyser-like impression.

Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

From this map, a person can see where the spring is located off a small channel on Indian Lake.
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

In the video you can see the bubbling of the springs
on the bottom of the sea floor.
Video by J. Moyer July 2019

The spring bubbling up.
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

From the middle of the raft it is easy to see the trout swimming below.
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

The fallen trees almost seem preserved in time below the waters
Photo by J. Moyer
July 2019

The geographical formation happens when there is elevation is higher around the spring. Water will build up from rain, or snow melting into the ground. The bedrock below will start to form channels and water pushes the bedrock out of the way. Finally, it reaches its breaking point where the water shoots out of the ground, forming the pool.

Images on the raft give a great explaination of how the spring works.
Photo by J. Moyer July 2019

LEGEND

As with most Native American places, there must be a legend. And Kitchi-iti-kipi has a few.

One legend is about a young Native American, Kitchi-iti-kipi, who was trying to impress a young lady, who did not share his love back. She insisted that he proves his love to her by sailing out in the canoe in the deep spring and catch her as she leaped from an overhanging branch. Instead, his canoe flipped over in the brisk waters and he drowned. The lady Native American never went to the spring. She stayed at the village, laughing at his attempt to prove his love to her. It was rumored that Bellaire made up the legend to make the spring seem a bit more appealing.
In speaking of true love, there is a Native American ritual, using the freshwater spring, that would make someone your true love by taking a drop of honey on birch bark and dipping it into the spring. Then give the gift of bark to your love one and they will fall forever in love with you. Another legend was to ground the bark into a fine powder and stick the powder in your pocket. At the stroke of midnight, the powder turns into gold.
Another legend is a little less romantic. Native Americans would listen to the sounds of the spring and name their babies after the sounds they would hear, such as, We-shi which means little fish, or Kakushika, which means big eye.

This amazing geological feature is well worth the time to go visit. This park is open for enjoyment during all four seasons. The water says at 45 degrees so it will never freeze. With over 70,000 tourists annually, it is easy to see that Kitch-iti-kipi is one of Michigan's best kept secret.