Many motorists and vacationers know about this park's grassy beach and modern campground at the east end of Lake Michigamme, while remaining unaware of the extremely scenic, rugged, yet easily accessible natural areas just north of the highway. To explore these 1,044 acres, pick up a map at the contact station at the park's main entrance.
 | | The Peshekee River where it cross the wood plank bridge just north of 41. It empties into Lake Michigamme after its waters travel a long twisty route all the way from the eastern slope of lofty Mt. Curwood. | The most heavily used part of the park is past the main entrance by the two campgrounds and beach at the lake's east end. The Van Riper after whom the park is named is Dr. Paul Van Riper, a local legend as Champion's frontier doctor. His son, Charles Van Riper, a Western Michigan University speech therapist, was widely known in Michigan as Cully Gage, author of the beloved Northwoods Readers. The beach here was the favorite swimming hole for Champion residents. Dr. Van Riper, as a township commissioner, helped the town acquire the beach as a park. That was after local kids observed him in the act of changing into his swimsuit and made up an unflattering chant about it. He made sure that the new park got changing houses right away.
In these difficult times for the state economy, Michigan State Parks do without any general fund money from the state. (In 1980 the general fund paid 70% of state park expenses.) Parks are supported entirely by user fees and income from existing trust funds. Now a full-time staff of one manages Van Riper and Craig Lake state parks plus 40 boat launch sites. Two more rangers work half the year, the clerical staff is half time, and everyone else is seasonal help. It really helps stretch a park's budget to have labor contributed by a work crew of trusties and supervisor from a Department of Corrections camp in the area.
...continued below...
 | | Satisfyingly rugged and steep, but a short enough loop for novice hikers, Overlook Trail takes you up through a richly diverse forest to several overlooks, such as of the Peshekee River seen here. From another big boulder one can see Lake Michigamme in the distance. | Here are park highlights:
• The OVERLOOK TRAIL is a choice one-hour hiking loop with views of dramatic rock outcrops, hundred-year-old pines, the Peshekee River, and Lake Michigamme. It's reached by driving north almost a mile on Huron Bay Road, which joins U.S. 41/M-28 just west of the Peshekee River. Pay close attention, even looking back a little, to find Martin's Landing Road heading east across the river. As soon as you cross the river, park to your left and start the one-mile hiking loop up to the overlook. Stairs, improved in 2004, make the path easier, but you do need to watch your step over rocks. It's unfortunately not a hike for shufflers or the infirm. But it's a sublime view, so plan on lingering in this special place.
• The RIVER TRAIL, on the opposite side of Martin's Landing Road, heads south along the Peshekee River valley. It begins on a boardwalk over wetlands, then affords river glimpses before entering an area of big red and white pines.
• The BEAVER POND TRAIL is north of U.S. 41/M-28 quite near the main entrance road. It has panels about plants and animals native to the area: grey wolf, eagle, bat, pileated woodpecker, pine marten, frog, salamander, sandhill crane. This loop of about two miles leads to another scenic overlook with another grand view; it hooks up with the more distant Overlook Trail. This too is a beautiful area, but highway noise detracts. For cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on a make-your-own-trail basis, park across U.S. 41 near the main entrance.
• The MOOSE KIOSK on the main entrance road south of U.S. 41/M-28 tunes visitors in to the habits of moose. It also tells the story of Operation Mooselift, the moose transplant operation that reintroduced the half-ton vegetarians to a release site six miles north of the park in 1985 and 1987. Since then the number of moose in the area has grown - to how many it's not quite clear. Total Upper Peninsula moose population seems closer to 100 than earlier estimates of 300. One video shows moose in Canada's Algonquin National Park east of Georgian Bay being sedated, lifted by helicopter to a central area under the diligent supervision of wildlife biologists, put into crates, and trucked to a location near here, some eight miles north of U.S. 41 on Huron Bay Road. Another video shows "kiwi cowboys" from New Zealand, specialists in animal management, picking up moose here by helicopter to recollar them so their movements can be tracked.
Smaller kiosks have displays about "Dr. Van," walleye, wolves, and the defunct Huron Bay Railroad built near here - a spectacular case of poor planning. Kiosks are in place from spring break-up through mid-October.
 | | At the eastern edge of 8-mile-long Lake Michigamme, Van Riper Stae Park's beach lies below a knoll of fir trees. | • LAKE MICHIGAMME BEACH. A favorite because of the sandy beach has a very gentle dropoff and unusually warm water.
• Fishing on LAKE MICHIGAMME. In Fish Michigan: 100 Upper Peninsula Lakes, noted angler Tom Huggler writes, "The lake has a long history of good fishing; however its great size [4,360 acres], abundance of structure, and dark color make it difficult to fish." He rates fishing opportunities for walleye, muskie, smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, and whitefish good or better. The lake is so deep and cold that the DNR has successfully introduced trout as well. The Peshekee River connects the lakes at Craig Lake State Park with Lake Michigamme. Now that bass fishing at Criag Lake is catch-and-release, six or so really big ones are caught a year by bass fishermen trolling along the dropoff where the Peshekee flows into Lake Michigamme. A boat launch is around on the south shore on the same drive as the rustic campground. Michigamme Shores Campground (906-339-2116) rents paddleboats, pontoons, kayaks, canoes, and motorboats.
A summer Explorer Ranger program for adults and children brings five days a week (Tuesday through Saturday usually) of guided hikes, occasional crafts in bad weather, and programs on astronomy, wildflowers, forestry, wildlife, and more. Call for upcoming events.
31 miles west of Marquette, 17 miles west of Ishpeming, and about 2 miles west of Champion on U.S. 41/M-28. (906) 339-4461. Winter weather providing, park stays open all year, with main road and some campsites plowed. State park sticker required: $6/day for Michigan residents, $8 for others. Yearly sticker $24 and $29. Wheelchair-accessible: kiosks, restrooms, campground shower building, day-use area paths, but not yet the beach.
Return to Champion
|
