Punkin’ Patch Kids Series

This 9-box series was originally planted for the 2006 MI Fall Gathering. Yankee Springs Recreation Area was once the hunting grounds of the Algonquin Indians and the famous Chieftain, Chief Noonday. The site was established in 1835 and the village was made famous by Yankee Bill Lewis who owned and operated a hotel along the stagecoach run from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. The rugged terrain, the bogs and marshes, the lakes and streams, and the unique beauty of the park’s 5,200 acres lend itself to many forms of recreation.

Three special points of interest in the park are: Devil’s Soupbowl, a glacially carved kettle formation, Graves Hill Overlook and The Pines, accessible from the extensive 30 mile hiking trail system.

Getting There…

The main entrance to Yankee Springs is located off Chief Noonday Road (M-179), about 7 miles off U.S. 131 between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Exit U.S. 131 at M-179 (exit 61 - Bradley/Hopkins); follow M-179 east for 7 miles to Briggs Road. Entrance is about 3/4 mile south on Briggs Road. A Michigan State Parks vehicle sticker is required. A park map is highly recommended and can be downloaded here.

Clues…

If you look at a map of the Yankee Springs Rec Area, you will find a small lake along the northern edge called MacDonald Lake. At one time Sirus MacDonald, an old Yankee farmer, laid claim to the property across the entire area as a part of his farm. Now, we all know that there are cows and pigs and chickens down on Old MacDonald’s farm, but for years he also maintained a huge pumpkin patch in the area to the north of Long Lake. Much of the land is now overgrown with pine and deciduous forest, but if you search carefully, a few remaining traces of the pumpkin patch can be found. You see, pumpkins reseed themselves and one year as the pumpkins were carved with fancy designs for Halloween, the seeds were thrown back into the field, and the next spring, little sprouts came up. These little sprouts, known as the Punkin’ Patch Kids, have made themselves at home in hollows and crannies in the forest and delight in spooking hikers along the Long Lake Trail.

There are 9 Punkin’ Patch Kids to be found… Begin your quest at the trailhead along Briggs Road just north of the Gun Lake Unit entrance. Clues are given in linear fashion, meaning each one picks up where the last one left off. You will walk the entire length of the Long Lake Trail and small sections of adjoining trails.

To Box #1…

Shortly after setting off on the trail, you will pass the rustic camping area. Explore if you must, but none of the Punkin’ Patch Kids are hiding here. As you continue on the trail, you will come to a place where a long fallen log hangs out partially onto the path. Stop here and take a bearing of 135 degrees to see a tall leaner through the trees. In a hollow between the toes of the leaner, hides KITTY FACE.

To Box #2…

Continuing along the trail, you will see an odd-looking arched tree ahead where the trail turns to head at 130 degrees. Stop for a minute to examine this perfectly arched tree. Standing at the root end, take a bearing of 345 degrees. There you will find BAT EYES hiding behind a piece of bark in the hollow of a decaying stump.

To Box #3…

Continue along now, carefully walking the planks. When you are once again on terra firma, stay your course (you didn’t want to climb that hill anyway, did you?) and Long Lake will soon come into view through the trees to your right. This is as close as you will get to the lake, so if you must see, detour down a side-path if you wish and return to the main trail when you are finished. Eventually you will cross a small wooden footbridge and then head gradually uphill. Upon reaching the wooden trail post, you will do right to remain true to blue. At the next wooden trail post, again remain true to blue, even though it may not be the right choice this time. 40 paces beyond the next colored trail marker, see the butt end of a stump hoisted in the air between two legs which are lying on the ground. Follow the easternmost leg to the place where it meets a cross-over log and slightly lifts off the ground. Here you will find TOOTH hiding beneath some pieces of wood.

To Box #4…

As you proceed onward along the trail, you will come upon a naked monstrous tree with a split belly lying to the right of the trail. At the next colored trail marker, another large fallen tree lies to your right. Take a minute to poke around the debris and find FANG hiding in the shallow hollow of a broken off arm.

To Box #5…

Back on the path, watch to your right for the decaying stone foundation of one of old MacDonald’s farm buildings. Soon the trail enters a meadowy area and the path becomes sandy. At the next colored trail marker, find a large octopus tree on your left. Sidetrack down L, inhaling the spicy pine scent. Eighty paces in, notice the humungous multi-trunk pines on your left. Straight ahead the trail splits at an area of low-growing pines. 240 degrees from the yellow arrow, spot a 4-trunk (or is it 5 trunks?) pine with straight, tall, closely spaced legs. In the belly of this tree, find CRAZED enjoying the calm of the pine forest.

To Box #6…

Head back out to the main trail where the octopus tree stands across from the colored trail marker and continue on your way. Climb a small hill and as the path levels out, enjoy the soft carpet of pine needles underfoot. Check out that big pine with the low serpent-branch on your right. 80 degrees from the trunk of this tree, find CASPER hiding in the hollow of a fallen tree.

To Box #7…

Continuing on, follow the trail down and out of the pines. Be careful of the rocks underfoot as you head uphill and to the right. At the next wooden trail marker, it appears your trail has ended… proceed just ahead to another wooden marker to see if you can find it there. Hmmm, not there either. Follow LE ahead and up root steps. Oh look, it is still your trail! As you proceed ahead toward the orange, beware of poison ivy along both sides of the path. Pass through both oranges and continue straight ahead on the path. At the top of a hill, two large rocks lie in your path. From here 35 paces brings you to an incredibly huge tree that starts as a 4-trunker and multiplies on the way up. Again pass through orange and straight ahead on the path. Here your trail ends. Turn to the right, where the trail follows the road for a little while, then turns away. Soon you will come across a 3-ft. round wooden post on your left and just up ahead a trail marker identifies your new trail. At the next colored trail marker, which stands near an intersection, take a bearing of 320 degrees and proceed 40 paces to find REX hiding at the “X”.

To Box #8…

Back at the trail, turn around and head back the way you came. Pass the “T” with your original trail and proceed straight ahead. Just past the 2nd wooden trail marker, the path turns sharply to the right as it enters an area of many fallen trees. As you leave this area of debris, the path takes a hairpin turn to the left and heads uphill. When you reach the next colored trail marker, turn around and come back 100 paces. Find a rock with a flat top off the trail to your left. Hiding under the back edge of this rock, find FRAIDY.

To Box #9…

Continue retracing your steps back to the “T” with your original trail and follow it across the road and through the orange. Enjoy the walk back, knowing there is only one more Punkin’ Patch Kid waiting for you; he is hiding right along the path you came on! After passing through the meadow area, begin counting the colored trail markers, starting with the one by the large fallen tree where you found Fang. After the third colored marker, watch for the next wooden marker. Due north from here, “X” marks the spot (no pun in tended) where you will find FRECKLES hiding under the logs.

Continue retracing your steps back to the trailhead at Briggs Road.