Ultimate Guide to Devil’s Kitchen, Michigan (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
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Devil’s Kitchen is a cave located on the shores of Michigan’s Mackinac Island. The waters of Lake Huron carved the cave during the Nipissing post-glacial period. Mackinac Island is known for having world-class rock formations. The features get highlighted by trails which leads to these areas. Devil’s Kitchen Cave is one such example.
There are many stories and folklore about Devil’s Kitchen Cave, and most of these stories are related to bad spirits. There is a general belief that the cave got its name from the black soot that covers the cave due to the cooking activities of the spirits here.
History of Devil’s Kitchen Cave
Devil’s Kitchen is a comparatively small cave on the southwestern shore of Mackinac Island, Michigan. The cave was carved out during the Nipissing post-glacial period by the waves of Lake Huron. It has two hollows on a rocky cliff where one is directly on top of another. The brecciated limestone of the Island has eroded over the years into several unusual formations.
Many experts have compared the appearance of the cave to a human mouth with an open mouth. It is now dry land, but Devil’s Kitchen is one of the most visited locations within the Mackinac Island State Park. Local stories surround this cave wherein it is said that the Native Americans belonging to the Straits of Mackinac considered the cave haunted by evil spirits.
The spirits were believed to be cannibalistic as they reportedly ate people who came too close to the cave’s location. Even today, the cave is blackened with soot that allegedly came from the cooking fires of the evil spirits.
One cannot verify the authenticity of these stories, but critics believe that stories were made up to boost the tourism industry of Mackinac Island.
Geological Formations in Devil’s Kitchen Cave
This cave is a small shallow cave that was formed in breccia limestone. The cave was formed during the Nipissing post-glacial period by the waves of Lake Huron. The interiors of the cave are not particularly well-known for great geological formations.
Wildlife in Devil’s Kitchen Cave
One can spot gulls and ducks near the shore, but visitors would find it hard to spot land animals near the cave. If lucky, you can see a few squirrels and chipmunks.
Is Devil’s Kitchen Cave Haunted?
A local story says that the Native Americans of the Straits of Mackinac considered this cave to be a mysterious location that is inhabited by bad spirits. It is believed that the spirits were cannibals, and they would capture and eat victims who ventured too close to this dreaded location.
The cave has been blackened with soot allegedly from the cooking fires of the evil spirits, and from this, the cave got its name. It is hard to tell whether this story is from an Indian legend or cooked up to generate tourism on Mackinac Island.
How Big is Devil’s Kitchen Cave?
It is a small cave on the SW shore of Mackinac Island in Michigan.
Devil’s Kitchen Cave Tours
The authorities do not conduct any tours.
Devil’s Kitchen Cave Tour Prices and Discounts
There is no entry fee and no tours are conducted here. However, admission to Mackinac Island is not free. The charges are USD 13.50 per adult and USD 8 for kids.
Is Devil’s Kitchen Cave Cold?
The temperature inside the cave is expected to be cooler than the surroundings. You can carry a light jacket if you feel that it will be too cold.
What to Wear?
The cave is in a shallow region, but since the cave has a lot of soot, we suggest coming here in shorts and short-sleeved T-shirts or tops.
Devil’s Kitchen Cave Hours
One can visit the cave anytime between dawn and dusk.
What to Do at Devil’s Kitchen Cave (Beside Tours)
Exploring would not take much of your time as it is a small cave. If you love hiking, then you should enjoy the Warner Valley Trailhead. The roundtrip distance of the trail is 4.2 miles, and it takes around 2 hours to complete a whole trip. The highest point is at 6080 ft, and you would be crossing the Hot Springs Creek in the trail.
Best Time to Visit Devil’s Kitchen Cave
The best time to visit would be sometime in the open season because when winter sets in, Lake Huron has a chance to get frozen up.
How to Get to Devil’s Kitchen Cave
Devil’s Kitchen is located along M-185, which is the main road of the island. To get to Mackinac Island, you can depend on the ferry service as it is highly reliable and easy. There are one or two ferry companies that run back and forth to the island regularly.
Once the season ends, you can get to the island by plane or by boat if Lake Huron is not frozen at that time.
Hotels near Devil’s Kitchen Cave
There are many options to stay nearby, but if you are willing to travel a little bit, you can put up at Bogan Lane Inn or Cottage Inn of Mackinac.
Visiting Devil’s Kitchen Cave
Do you need more information before visiting? Contact numbers or emails are hard to find, but you may contact them through their Facebook page.
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