Many geocachers love stats and challenges - any kind of stats or challenges. Personally, just about all of my geocaching outings are based on goals. One of my goals has been to attend an event in every county in Michigan. A number of other cachers are working on this goal also. I wasn't able to attend the series of events in May, so I decided to host my own series. At first, I wasn't sure when would be a good time to do this, then the idea of a Upper Peninsula Fall Color Tour popped into my head. I have never been in the UP during this time of the year, so I thought that it was about time to make it happen.
This series will include at least one event or CITO in each county in the Upper Peninsula. I have looked for locations for each event that will hopefully highlight a view of the fall colors, but the colors and the weather are up to Mother Nature. The views at each event will vary. Some will have great views and some will be just average. The road time should have some great views too.
Timing is set up so that you can grab a bite to eat or find some caches between each event. No one is required to attend all of these events. Some cachers may only attend a single event. Also, being the fall, there is a chance for cooler and wetter weather, so plan accordingly.
I can not stress enough that if you are going to attend any of these events that will require an overnight stay, make your reservations as soon as possible. The Upper Peninsula does get quite busy during the fall color season. I have talked with several hotels and campgrounds and both have said that they fill up quickly.
Addendum
Please check this area for things I missed or other important information.
August 1
I would like to make an "Announcement" when there is news. I don't want to post an announcement to every single event. Lots of work for me and duplicate emails for you. If you would like to get the announcements, I will only issue them on the UP Fall Color Tour - Narnia Trails event. If you haven't posted a will attend on that event, put a "Watch" on it and you will get them.
I have created a Facebook group for those of you that are on Facebook. The name is "UP Fall Color Tour Geocaching Events".
Cell coverage can be poor to nonexistent in some areas. Have all of your caches and maps downloaded to an "offline" list or file will be very helpful.
The counties of Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson and Menominee counties are in the Central Time Zone. (One hour behind of our Eastern Time Zone). The times that are posted on the events in those counties are the local time, Central Time Zone. I believe your phone and GPS will update. My GPS can be slow to update.
I have just learned that there is an issue with the UP Fall Color Tour - Tahquamenon Upper Falls. The stairs leading down to the upper falls will be closed starting early September. The stairs are going to be replaced with a ramp system.
About this location
Entry into Michigan's State Parks requires a Michigan Recreation Passport. You must have this Passport to attend this event.
Kitch-iti-kipi ("KITCH-i-tee-KI-pee" with short "i"s), yes, it's a mouthfull to say. It is also sometimes referred to as the Big Spring. The name Kitch-iti-kipi is said to have many meanings in the language of the local indigenous Ojibwe people. Some were "Mirror of Heaven", "The Great Water", "The Blue Sky I See", and "Bubbling Spring". Other Native Americans called it "The Roaring", "Drum Water", and the "Sound of Thunder"—even though there is total silence coming from the spring.
The largest natural, freshwater spring in Michigan, it is 300 by 175 feet across and 40 feet deep. 10,000 gallons of water per minute erupts from fissures in the limestone rocks at the spring’s floor. The water temperature is a constant 45 degrees and the teal water is crystal clear. It rarely freezes in the winter. It is home to large lake trout, brown trout and brook trout. There is an ADA-accessible, paved path from the parking lot to the observation deck and dock. The raft is ADA-accessible, too. Pet-friendly; pets must be on a six-foot or shorter leash at all times in the park and on the raft. If the raft is crowded, please consider keeping your pet on shore.
No swimming. No fishing. No kayaking or paddling. You can swim, fish and paddle at the nearby Indian Lake State Park.
For many years, Ojibwe families lived in the area surrounding Kitch-iti-kipi. Many left when European settlers arrived. The European settlers worked to tame the thick forests, harvesting the lumber to build communities in the U.P. and the Midwest. Lumber camps used Kitch-iti-kipi as a dumping ground for unwanted logs and trash.
John Bellaire, the owner of a five-and-dime store in Manistique, came upon the hidden spring in the 1920s. He would visit the enchanting waters almost daily. Rather than buy the land for himself, Bellaire wanted everyone to enjoy the spring. So he convinced members of the Palms and Book families who owned the Palms Book Land Company to sell 90 acres surrounding the spring to the State of Michigan for $10. The deed stipulated the land had to be used forever as a public state park.
Over the next two decades, the State obtained several more land parcels and the Palms Book State Park now covers nearly 388 acres.
There are several folktales and legends about the spring. A 2020 book by Carole Lynn Hare (Miskwa Anang Kwe), The Legend of Kitch-iti-kipi, tells her tribe’s version.
Below is a list of all events in this tour.