Orchids of the Upper Peninsula (Michigan)
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is one of the best locations for native terrestrial orchids in the United States. A combination of glacial geography, diverse geology, pristine forests, a variety of landscapes and habitat types, and large swaths of protected land all combine to make the U.P. a fantastic place to visit, explore, and hunt for orchids! An incredibly high diversity of orchid species, forms, and varieties can be found, and if conditions are right, one can expect to see anywhere from 25-30 species, of which at least 20 could be blooming!
In addition to orchids, the U.P. boasts outstanding scenery, extensive Great Lakes shoreline, world-class outdoor recreation, excellent birding, interesting historical sites, and other unique opportunities. Numerous rare and endemic plant species are also easily found (some we might expect to see are prairie smoke, Indian paintbrush, numerous rare and unusual fern species, Lake Huron tansy, Pitcher’s thistle, carnivorous plants (including pitcher plant, sundews, and butterwort), and dwarf lake iris), while fascinating geological wonders abound. And nowhere are you further than an hour away from one of the three Great Lakes that bound the Upper Peninsula: Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron. Some of the spectacular sites we will be visiting include Drummond Island (home of extensive alvar (limestone pavement) ecosystems), Keweenaw Peninsula, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Sable Dunes, Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, Vermilion Life Saving Station, and Mackinac Island.
Dates & Prices
Dates: July 13 – July 20, 2025
Price: $4500 single and $4000 shared
Deposit: $500. Due no later than March 1, 2025
Group Size: Minimum of 4, Maximum of 8
Final Payment Due: June 1, 2025
Deposit details: Refundable up to March 1, 2025. Since there is a limited number of spaces, interested participants should send their deposits to the OCA as soon as possible to reserve a spot on the tour. Your spot on the tour is only reserved when your deposit is received, and the order of the deposits determines acceptance.
Price Includes: Hotels, all meals, ground transportation, entry fees to sites, Pictured Rocks boat cruise, Mackinac Island ferry and carriage ride, services of guides.
Flights: Participants should make their own arrangements arriving on or before July 13 in Marquette, Michigan (Sawyer International Airport, MQT) and departing on or after July 20th. Late afternoon flights for departure are recommended. There are direct flights to Marquette from Chicago and Detroit, and many connections to various destinations from those hub cities. If arriving early or departing later, hotels we have reservations at are given below.
Hotels: We have made reservations at the Holiday Inn Express (Marquette) July 13-16, and the Super 8 by Wyndham (St. Ignace) July 16-20. Note, because of the distance from St. Ignace back to the airport in Marquette, afternoon departure flights strongly suggested. Transport from St. Ignace to Marquette (Sawyer International MQT) airport on July 20th included in the price.
Costs do not include: Round trip flights, transport from airport to hotel in Marquette, alcoholic beverages, tips. Note, lunches are mostly “field lunches”, not restaurants.
Conservation donation: A donation based on the profit (estimated at $1000 per person) from the tour is donated to the Orchid Conservation Alliance. The Orchid Conservation Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization, and for USA residents, the donation may be tax deductible. A formal acknowledgement letter with the exact amount donated is sent to each participant at year end.
Degree of difficulty: Mild to moderate, some short hikes. Participants should be able to walk up and down uneven ground (hillsides, sandy beaches); no strenuous treks are planned. Most sites are easily accessible and occur on mostly-level ground. We will frequently be on trails, but certain species will require some “bushwacking” making appropriate footwear essential—meaning hiking shoes or boots, no sandals or open-toed shoes. Additionally, many sites are wet and will require rubber boots. The Upper Peninsula can be notoriously buggy (particularly in bogs and some of the other sites we will visit), so insect repellant is another necessity. Barring dangerous weather (e.g. severe thunderstorms), site visits will occur in all conditions so please bring appropriate raingear.
Special Notes: Due to the remoteness of the sites, lunches will be eaten in the field. We will arrange trips to the grocery store to purchase food and beverages.
This tour will begin in Marquette, MI on July 13th.
Group transportation will be in 2-3 vehicles, either minivans or cars, depending on the size of the group.
July 13th: Arrivals, participants can visit local sights in Marquette. No field trips or organized excursions are planned for this date. Group dinner in Marquette with group meeting in hotel lobby at 6 pm. Overnight at Holiday Inn Express, Marquette
July 14-16th. Field trips in the Marquette region. Overnight at Holiday Inn Express, Marquette (check out on the 16th).
July 16th. Group transfer to St. Ignace.
July 16th. Botanizing along the way to St. Ignace.
July 17th-18th. Field trips in the St. Ignace region. Overnight at Super 8 by Wyndham, St. Ignace.
July 19th. Trip to Mackinac Island by ferry, buffet lunch at the Grand Hotel. Overnight at Super 8 by Wyndham, St. Ignace.
July 20th. Transfers to airport in Marquette. If time allows, botanizing along the way. Departures from Marquette to home.
Google Maps, retrieved Sept 17, 2024.
List of Orchid Species
Our mid-July trip can expect to yield the following species, depending on site(s), date(s), and local conditions (and perhaps not all in bloom):
Arethusa bulbosa
Calopogon tuberosa
Corallorhiza maculata
Corallorhiza striata
Corallorhiza trifida
Cypripedium acaule
Cypripedium arietinum
Cypripedium parviflorum
Cypripedium reginae
Goodyera oblongifolia
Goodyera pubescens
Goodyera repens
Goodyera tesselata
Liparis loeselii
Malaxis brachypoda
Neottia convallariodes
Neottia cordata
Platanthera aquilinos
Platanthera blephariglottis
Platanthera clavellata
Platanthera dilatata
Platanthera hookeri
Platanthera huronensis
Platanthera lacera
Platanthera obtusata
Platanthera orbiculata
Platanthera psycodes
Platanthera unalascensis
Pogonia ophioglossoides
Spiranthes lacera
Adrienne Bozic
Adrienne Bozic
Adrienne Bozic is a botanist and plant ecologist specializing in rare plant conservation and native orchid ecology. Her 20+ years of diverse experience include plant community delineation, botanical inventories, T&E species surveys, drafting management recommendations, designing research projects, analyzing plant conservation strategies, education, and outreach. Adrienne conducted her M.S. research on rare orchids of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and recently completed a 3-year study of the native orchids of Delaware. She is a board member of the Native Orchid Conservation Network and an active member of the Native Orchid Conference, Native Orchid Preservation and Education Society, and the Orchid Conservation Alliance. She has given numerous presentations on orchid ID, ecology, and conservation throughout the country. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is her favorite orchid hunting grounds.
Dr. Mary Gerritsen
Mary Gerritsen
The OCA representative on the Upper Peninsula trip will be Mary Gerritsen, Ph.D., President of the OrchidConservation Alliance. Mary has been leading orchid tours for the OCA for nearly 10 years, andhas traveledextensively to see orchids in habitat.