Van Riper

Van Riper State Park is located on the shores of Lake Michigamme in Marquette County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The park provides access to one of the Upper Peninsula's largest and most scenic lakes, surrounded by the dense forests and rocky terrain of the western UP. The park is known for excellent fishing, outstanding fall color, and proximity to some of the wildest country in the eastern United States.

Lake Michigamme supports walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and lake trout. The surrounding forest is home to black bears, gray wolves, moose, and fishers. White-tailed deer are abundant. Bald eagles and osprey patrol the lake. Loons nest on the lake's islands. The remote, heavily forested landscape provides some of the best wildlife habitat in the eastern United States.

The park features northern hardwood and boreal forest. Sugar maple, yellow birch, and hemlock dominate, with balsam fir, white spruce, and white cedar in wetter areas. The forest is thick and wild, representative of the Upper Peninsula's vast forest landscapes. Fall color is spectacular, with maples turning brilliant red and orange. Wildflowers including trillium, bunchberry, and wood anemone bloom in spring.

Lake Michigamme occupies a basin influenced by the underlying Precambrian-age metamorphic and igneous rocks, some of the oldest exposed rocks in the United States at over 2 billion years old. The landscape was shaped by multiple glaciations. The rocky terrain exposes gneiss, schist, and greenstone formations.

The western Upper Peninsula has a harsh continental climate with very cold winters and short, pleasant summers. Annual snowfall can exceed 200 inches. Summer temperatures reach the mid-70s. The short growing season and heavy snow create challenging but beautiful conditions.

The Ojibwe people inhabited the Lake Michigamme area. The discovery of iron and copper deposits brought mining to the Upper Peninsula in the 19th century. The surrounding forest was heavily logged. The town of Champion serves the local community.

Van Riper State Park was established to provide lakeside recreation on Lake Michigamme and preserve public access to this magnificent Upper Peninsula lake.

Fishing on Lake Michigamme is world-class. Swimming at the sandy beach is refreshing in summer. Hiking trails explore the forest. The park is a gateway to the surrounding wilderness. Fall color drives through the area are spectacular. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular in winter.

The park is on Highway 41/28 near Champion in Marquette County. Modern campsites, a swimming beach, and boat launch are provided. Marquette provides full visitor services approximately 30 miles east.

The park's forests are managed for ecological health. Lake water quality is protected. The Upper Peninsula's vast forests provide critical habitat for gray wolves and other wildlife species that require large, connected landscapes. Invasive species are monitored.