Kitch-iti-kipi is so crystal-clear that you can see the bottom of the 40-foot-deep spring, where the water gushes in. However, it’s so still on top it reflects the surrounding trees like a mirror. It’s a natural freshwater spring in Palms Book State Park in Manistique, Michigan, in the Central Upper Peninsula. As the largest spring in Michigan, it’s known for unusually clear teal water.
It’s a great place to visit as a part of your Michigan UP journey or to make the centerpiece as a reason for travel in the area.
Kitch-iti-kipi, pronounced Kitch ita kipi, means “big cold spring” in the Ojibwe language and is nicknamed “Mirror of Heaven.” The Ojibwe people had lived in the area for centuries and have many legends and stories about Kitch-iti-kipi, including one about a young chief who died in the icy spring when his canoe flipped while to impress a young Ojibwe woman.
Kitch-iti-kipi is a popular stop for people visiting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, if not a destination unto itself. It receives upwards of 60,000 visitors yearly, making it relatively unknown compared to nearby Pictured Rocks, which receives just over 1 million. Still, the beauty and rarity of the crystal-clear turquoise spring make it worth the time.
How Kitch-iti-kipi Formed and Stays Perfect
Visitors can’t go in the water. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association prohibit anything in the water, especially people. This is to keep the 300 by 175 feet oval pool as perfect as it is today.
The spring is fed by 45-degree water that flows 10,000 gallons per minute from fissures in the underlying limestone.
The limestone bedrock in the area formed millions of years ago and was covered by a shallow sea; as the sea retreated, the limestone sediment compressed into rock. The acidic groundwater dissolved the limestone, creating a series of water-filled caves. Eventually, the roof of one of the caves collapsed, making the spring pool that we see today. The water in the spring is crystal clear because it is filtered by the sand and gravel that line the bottom of the pool.
The overflow of the spring waters enters a stream that winds through the surrounding forest and empties into Indian Lake. While you can’t kayak in the spring, I have seen people kayak up the stream near the spring.
Things to do at Kitch-iti-kipi
Raft
The main attraction at Kitch-iti-kipi is the raft. The raft ride is free on a first-come, first-served basis. The short trip across the spring lasts about 15 minutes and gives visitors a closer look at the crystal-clear 40-feet-deep spring and the large lake trout, brown and brook trout and other aquatic life that live in the spring.
The lines can be long and take up to an hour since only about 20 people at a time can board. I didn’t wait in line the first time I visited, but on my second trip, I did, and the wait was worth it. If you don’t have the time, you can stand near one side of the spring to see the water without waiting in line for the raft.
The raft is unique, too. To operate it, one or more passengers (usually kids) volunteer to turn the big wheel that propels it slowly forward and then back to the dock. The raft has a section in the center of the deck cut out, so all passengers have room at an edge to see down into the clear water below. The raft is also covered to reduce sun glare and keep you dry in case of rain. From the open center observation spot or the sides of the raft, you can see big fish swimming, ancient tree trunks, lime-encrusted branches and clouds of sand pushed up by the bubbling water.
Hike
The Kitch-iti-kipi Trail is a short 0.25-mile loop trail with views of the spring and the surrounding forest.
Shop
The Palms Book State Park Visitor Center has plenty of bathrooms, exhibits on the natural geology and cultural significance of Kitch-iti-kipi, and many souvenirs and snacks to purchase.
Picnic
You’re probably arriving here from someplace far away, so take a break and picnic at one of the many tables in the park. There are also grills.
Learn
Attend a cultural presentation or take a ranger-guided tour of the park. Check with the visitor center for times or ask the ranger, who often sits at a table near the line for the raft.
If you Visit Kitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi is a unique and beautiful place to relax and connect with nature. The Ojibwe people saw it as magical and sacred, and it still holds those properties today.
Kitch-iti-kipi is located about 11 miles north of Manistique, Michigan. GPS likely won’t work well in the area and cell service is limited. To get to the spring, take US-2 west to M-35 north. Turn left onto Manistique River Road and follow it to Palms Book State Park.
There’s no cost to visit Kitch-iti-kipi, but you need a Michigan parks pass, or it costs $9 for a day pass. Overall, you won’t spend more than an hour or two visiting depending on the length of the line for the raft ride, so it’s best to see as part of several Michigan Upper Peninsula stops. Luckily, there are a few good ones nearby.
Other things to do Near Kitch-iti-kipi
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – 1 hour away
- Tahquamenon Falls 2 hours away
- Soo Locks 2.15 hours away
- Mackinaw Island 1.5 hours, plus a ferry ride across Lake Huron
- Isle Royale National Park – 1-hour drive + 3-hour boat ride
Read more stories about Michigan here.
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