Van Riper State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Van Riper State Park, located in the state of Michigan, offers visitors a variety of reasons to visit and explore its natural beauty.
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Summary
Situated on the shores of Lake Michigamme, this park offers a range of recreational activities for all outdoor enthusiasts.
One of the main attractions of Van Riper State Park is its stunning sandy beach along the lake, providing a perfect spot for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking. The crystal-clear waters of Lake Michigamme offer ample opportunities for boating, fishing, and canoeing, making it a popular destination for water sports.
For nature lovers, the park features numerous hiking trails that wind through picturesque forests, providing opportunities for bird-watching and wildlife observation. The McCormick Wilderness Tract, adjacent to the park, offers an extensive wilderness area for more adventurous hikers.
Van Riper State Park also boasts a picturesque campground with modern amenities, allowing visitors to enjoy a peaceful stay surrounded by nature. The park offers both rustic and modern campsites, including electric hookups, modern restrooms, and a sanitation station for RVs.
One interesting fact about Van Riper State Park is that it is home to one of the largest campgrounds in Michigan's state park system, offering 147 campsites. Additionally, the park has a rich cultural history, as it was once home to the Ojibway people.
The best time to visit Van Riper State Park is during the summer months, when the weather is pleasant, and the park is filled with vibrant foliage. It is important to note that Michigan's Upper Peninsula experiences colder temperatures during the winter, so the park may be less accessible during that time.
To ensure accuracy, it is recommended to verify information about Van Riper State Park across multiple independent sources, such as the official Michigan Department of Natural Resources website and reputable travel guides.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Craig Lake State Park Site 16
Beaufort Lake State Forest Campground
Craig Lake State Park Sites 13, 14
Craig Lake State Park Site 15
Craig Lake State Park Site 8
Craig Lake State Park Sites 6, 7