Snowy and cold hike to O Kun de Kun Falls

A must snowshoe or hike in the winter.

NOTE: This is a long post, if reading by email you’ll need to view online through funintheup.substack.com to view the entire post about this adventure. Email clients can only load so much data through the email.

---

Do you love winter and snowshoeing? Well if you do this winter adventure is one that you’ll love in the Ottawa National Forest. Not only can you enjoy this trail in the winter but you can hike here all year-round with a friend or by yourself.

Welcome to Tour Da Yoop - Adventures with Yooper Steve where I share with you some fun and enjoyable places across the UP of Michigan. I’ll share with you some hidden places, not so hidden, and some popular places across the UP. Many of the adventures will be photography, hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, outdoor survival, fishing, xc skiing, snowshoeing, and exploring the beautiful UP to share with you. I have traveled and explored the UP my whole life and I’d like to share some of my adventures with you.

These adventures will be premium membership posts and once in awhile I’ll post a few free ones. This will be like a travel book but better. Your very own Yooper Guide from the most traveled Yooper.

This post today is a Freemium post. I hope you enjoy it.

---

O Kun de Kun Falls hike on the NCT (North Country Trail)

---

What you’ll find in the posts on my adventures.

1. Write up on my adventure experience that day

2. pictures and maybe videos

3. map and directions

4. other tips from my experiences

   ---

Winter is a special time of the year, it isn’t for everyone but it is for me. Winter is a season that you must embrace if you’re going to live in the Upper Peninsula. If you can’t stand winter and cold you’ll soon find yourself somewhere south, east, or west of here where there is less snow, no snow, or where people wear swimsuits all year on the beaches.

I have been to O Kun de Kun falls dozens of times, I probably do this hike 3-4 times a year. It is an easy hike for all ages with easy access off Hwy 45 just north of Bruce Crossing in Ontonagon county. This beautiful area is in the Ottawa National Forest that has close to a million acres of beautiful woodlands. This trail is part of the North Country Trail, the longest National Scenic Trail in the United States at 4800 miles long.

This would be my first hike in 2024 for the NCT Hike 100 Challenge. If you don’t know what the NCT Hike 100 Challenge is check it out, and sign up. In short your goal is to hike at least 100 miles from Jan 1st - Dec 31st along any part of the North Country Trail, 8 states, 4800 miles of trail to hike.

I set out on this cold, 5°F winter day (Jan 14th) to join up with our hiking group, but little did I know it would be cancelled due to the snowstorm. When I pulled into the O Kun de Kun falls parking lot I found one vehicle and the snow was about 1 foot deep with a few car tracks. I didn’t think much of it at first, I thought maybe I was just ahead of everyone else who usually carpools, someone may have been running late.

About 10 minutes had passed when I checked my email to ensure I was on time or perhaps early. Opening my email I saw one labeled “Today’s Hike CANCELLED”. Enclosed it said “The weather has really deteriorated and it is not a good idea to drive to O Kun de Kun falls today”. Chuckle, crazy Yooper Steve, out on the roads with 35mph winds blowing the light lake effect snow giving a visibility of about 1/8th of a mile at most with a fresh 2 inches of snow on the highway. If you don’t know, I love a good snowstorm, you know this if you’ve been following my Facebook page FunintheUP for any given time.

Well since I was already there, the adventure must go on. I did contemplate if I really wanted to bear the 5° day, why not I said, it’s not my first snowy-cold weather rodeo, heck sometimes I do winter camping in a backpacking tent or build a snow shelter, this cold isn’t stopping me, nor is a little blowing snow. My mind has been made up.

So I grabbed my backpack, gopro cameras, dSlr camera, extra batteries, a hand warmer, pair of choppers, stretchy gloves, water bottle, headlamp, and all the other stuff I carry on my person and I was ready to hit the trail.

I wouldn’t opt for wearing snowshoes or ice cleats today but I did strap a smaller set of snowshoes on my backpack in case I needed them. The trail was pretty packed down from the few hikers who were there the last couple days. Unless you’re one of the first to arrive after a good snowstorm you might find it easier to just wear your boots or wear ice cleats on your boots. Throw them in your backpack or strap them to your feet it doesn’t hurt. I always recommend having a pair of ice cleats and snowshoes in your car or backpack when exploring in the winter in case you need them.

Trail length to the main O Kun de Kun falls is just over 1.2miles if just hiking there, one way that is. Myself I zig, I zag, I climb, jump, slide, and explore I usually end up having about 3.5 miles logged after this hike.

Eight inches of fluffy fresh snow covered the tree branches providing a beautiful background on this short hike. Wind wasn’t an issue while in the woods on the trail, hardly noticed it until on my way back in the dark. Trail was compact enough, not slippery, slightly more difficult than on the trail with no snow. Stepping off trail a few times the snow was up to my knees in areas.

I started the hike about 230pm and wouldn’t be back until about 7pm. Along my hikes I sometimes take video and pictures, document things, so it takes me a little longer when I do this, sometimes a normal 1 hour adventure can turn into 4-5 hours for me because of this. I also like to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet of the areas, find neat little things along the way that make my adventures more memorable. I encourage you to do the same, you’ll be glad to take a little more time to explore than rush to a spot, snap a couple pics and leave, what fun is that?

After about halfway into the hike, filming and taking pictures I ran into a young couple from Iron Mountain. They were out enjoying the hike for the first time, we talked for a few moments and parted ways, them back to their vehicle, and me following their tracks along the NCT to the falls.

After about 1 mile in the hike you’ll start to see the river ahead. Just to the right you’ll see a sign O Kun de Kun 800 ft and the sign for Konteka falls. To get to Konteka you’ll need to descend a slightly steep hill, but it is easy enough if you take it slow, but it’s not for those with bad ankles, bad back, or other ailment that would flare up should you slip.

At the bottom of the hill you’ll be graced with the beautiful brown and tan colored waters of the moderate sized Baltimore river. The waterfall is fairly wide at about 60-70 feet and about 10 feet tall. Flow of the river can vary greatly from spring melt to a trickle late summer into the fall. Usually frozen over during deep freeze of late January to late February.

Konteka falls also known historically as Upper O Kun de Kun falls or Upper Falls. You’ll see in some places online or in books as Peanut butter falls, but that is wrong, it wasn’t ever called that historically.

My friend John in our hiking group and myself made some new signage for this section of trail and one of them was a new sign for Konteka falls. John did the router work I then painted the lettering.

In May of 2023 our hiking group set out on a hike along the trail to put that sign up and some others along the NCT. A few in the group did some trail work to clear deadfall, clip some brush and branches to get ready for the summer hikers.

Word of caution about the ice below the falls, it can be very thin and one slip and you could drown, in the spring your body would be carried to Lake Superior in Ontonagon in the spring.

Above: ice caves not very developed yet at Konteka falls 1.14.24

I stepped out on the ice below Konteka falls this day but it was very thin and I broke through in a few spots along the edge so I didn’t venture further. It was just starting to get frozen as it was just a few days into the cold spell that we had. Our hiking group went there the next week and it was frozen pretty solid. Again DO NOT go onto the ice.

While at Konteka falls I saw some cool ice that formed and also some hoar frost formed on the rock face. I got some video and took a few pictures, but it was a tricky spot to be without slipping down.

Above: hoar frost on ice at Konteka falls 1.14.24

After exploring at Konteka I had to skedaddle to the main attraction, O Kun de Kun falls, I had about 15 minutes left of decent light.

So onward I went, another two-tenths of a mile winding around the hillside, over some new boardwalks and to the top of the waterfall.

It was pretty frozen over and you couldn’t see much of the water but the ice wasn’t thick enough to venture out where I wanted to go below the falls, nor did I have enough time to explore there.

Above: view of O Kun de Kun falls 1.14.24

I took a couple pictures and some video from across the way down the cliff side a little bit then moved on across the bridge to the area near the cave that brings you right next to the waterfall. After a few pictures and some quick video it just got to dark. I really didn’t get a chance to enjoy it as much as I wanted.

The area by the cave was still low on ice, sometimes it really builds up high and you can be right next to the water as it rushes under the ice, but not today.

You have to be careful around here because it can get slippery and the cliff along the trees can build up with snow and ice from the spray of the falls, one slip and it could be trouble for you.

Above: tracks probably from a small pine marten 1.14.24

So now I donned my headlamp and bundled up a bit more as I could feel the temperature dropping and the wind starting to pick up slightly.

Most of the way back I didn’t need the headlamp as the white snow reflected what little light was left in the sky, about halfway back I had to turn on the headlamp for good.

My fingers were really starting to feel the cold as I was only wearing thin stretchy gloves so I took out my thick choppers. What are choppers you might ask, they are thick leather mittens.

After about 5 minutes I was feeling my fingers getting a little warmer. I highly suggest investing in some nice leather choppers.

On the way back I had issues with my headlamp and the flashlight I had, batteries were dying, and one of my headlamps was missing a piece that screws over the battery to keep it in. I tried to rig up some duct tape across it which didn’t hold because it was to cold so I just held the battery down and held the headlamp the rest of the way out. If all else failed I always carry a small flashlight in my pocket and I did have plenty of power in my cell phone to use the flashlight mode. It wasn’t super dark but just dark enough to need a flashlight, well it made for an easier hike out the last half back to the trailhead.

So here are my tips for exploring in the winter here I’ll give you a run down in a list.

1. dress in layers

2. have ice cleats or snowshoes in case you need them

3. bring water, winter dries out your body and you don’t notice

4. bring a flashlight/headlamp, choppers, hand warmers

5. be careful around the ice, no ice is 100% safe

6. take your time and explore as you hike

7. return in another season to see the changes

   ---

Continue below for Directions and maps for this hike.

---

These stats are just from this winter hike.

GPS for parking: 46.646948, -89.175370 <-clickable Google marker

Accessibility: Semi-easy trail, dirt, rock roots, boardwalk
Location: Ontonagon County - Baltimore River, Ottawa National Forest

Konteka Falls

Waterfall Rating: 8 (scale 1-10)
GPS Location:46.651358, -89.152558(falls)
Hiking distance:1.15 miles (one-way)
Hiking Time:25-30min (one-way)
Height of falls:about 10 feet
Width:50-70 feet depending water levels

O kun De Kun Falls

Waterfall Rating: 10 (scale 1-10)
GPS Location:46.651358, -89.152558(falls)
Hiking distance:1.3 miles (one-way)
Hiking Time:30-45min (one-way)
Height of falls:about 20 feet
Width:20-30 feet depending on water levels

Extra Information: Some might be wondering on the unusual name of this waterfall, hard to say for many and harder for people to spell. The waterfall is named after a famous Chippewa chief of Ontonagon county, Chief O kun-de-kun. Fun fact: Chief O kun-de-kun once owned the world famous Ontonagon Boulder (large piece of float copper), which is in Washington D.C. and once was on display at the Smithsonian Museum and now is located at the Natural History Museum. Konteka is another name for Chief O Kun de Kun.

---

Thanks for reading this UP Adventure post. I hope you found some value in it. May you have an awesome adventure if you visit. Feel free to share your experiences or desire to take this hike.

Stay tuned for the next UP Adventure post.

Yooper Steve (FB) - instagram.com/yoopersteve - yoopersteve.com

TourdaYoop (youtube) - FunintheUP (youtube)