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Fumee Lake Natural Area LbNA #57850 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Turtle's Mom
Plant date:May 17, 2011
Location:
City:Norway
County:Dickinson
State:Michigan
Boxes:3
Found by: TJ_Mich
Last found:Jul 1, 2023
Status:FFFFFFFFFr
Last edited:Jan 11, 2018
The Fumee Lake Natural Area is located between Norway and Iron Mountain in Dickinson County. There are over 1800 acres of forest and water to explore. Hiking, biking, jogging, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and horseback riding are activities that are welcome. Motorized travel of any kind is off limits, as is fishing.

There are over 150 species of birds and more than 620 species of plants that make their homes in the Natural Area. Frogs, turtles, bear, deer, beaver and otters have also been found. Collecting or picking of plants is prohibited.

There are two entrances to Fumee Lake. The west entrance is at the end of the Indiana Mine Road off the Lake Antoine Rd. The east entrance is on the Pine Creek Rd. off US2.

Box 1)Belted Kingfisher
This bird sits on a limb overlooking the water to search for fish to eat. It has a distinct rattle in its voice.
Start at the west entrance off the Lake Antoine Road. Park in the parking lot and go to the map at the entrance by the pit toilet. You want the Fumee Mountain Trail that goes uphill and over the Fumee Mtn. Less than a 1/4 mile up the trail you can see a trail joining the FMT. This trail leads to the old Cuff Mine (noted on the map). This trail is higher and heads west and uphill. Stop where you see the Cuff mine trail heading up. There is a mossy rectangular rock on the right side of the FMT, a flat rock in the trail, and a large oak tree on the left side of the FMT. The oak tree is straight north by compass from the mossy rock. Go to the oak and look under the 2 mossy rocks. When you find the Kingfisher, you can continue up the FMT to the Pileated woodpecker.

Box 2) Pileated Woodpecker THIS BOX HAS BEEN REMOVED AND WILL BE RETURNED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION IN THE FUMEE LAKE NATURAL AREA. ITS LOCATION HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

This woodpecker loves carpenter ants and will carve out large holes in dead trees and logs to find its food. It is crow sized with a beautiful red crown, dark back and white under its wings. To find this woodpecker you must hike a distance of 4.5 miles from the western entrance or 5.5 miles from the eastern entrance. Whichever way you choose, find the Fumee Mountain Trail and hike to the rock cairn on its summit. You will know you are there because there is a posted trail map next to the cairn. Around the back of the rocks you will find the box. Please re-hide carefully.

Box 3) Bald Eagle
Bald eagles have nested at Fumee for quite a few years. Look at the map of Fumee trails. Find the Eagle Viewing site a mile from the eastern entrance or 1.5 mi. from the western entrance. Once there, you will find a posted map. As you face the map, the Fumee Mountain Trail goes up the hill to your right, north, and the Eagle Viewing site is to the south on the lake just a few paces away. Across the lake you can see the eagle's nest. Look for the tallest white pine on the far shore and then look to the left of it. In a dead tree, is a huge, active nest. To find the hidden box, go back up to the main trail. Facing north, look a few steps along the trail to the east (your right). There are many boulders arranged in a line. Find the largest nest of rocks that has a long flat rock, topped by a large boulder and backed by another larger boulder. You will know you are at the right place when you see the 'no snowmobiling' sign on a tree very close to the box. Look between the boulder on the flat rock and the one behind it. Please re-hide carefully.



Hike length: 3-5 miles