Medium Demand — Gateway to the McCormick Wilderness

Van Riper State Park

Marquette County · Upper Peninsula · Champion, MI 49814
191
Campsites
1,044
Acres
From $22
Per Night
4,400
Acre Lake
Season: May – October
Hookups: Electric
Pets: Allowed on leash
Reservation: MiDNRReservations.com
Phone: (906) 339-4461
Book on MiDNRReservations.com →

About Van Riper State Park

Van Riper State Park sits on the shore of 4,400-acre Lake Michigamme in central Marquette County, a convenient basecamp between Marquette and the Keweenaw Peninsula. The park combines lake recreation — swimming, fishing, and boating on Lake Michigamme — with access to some genuinely remote backcountry, including the nearby McCormick Wilderness, a roadless tract with no maintained trails for visitors seeking true off-the-grid hiking.

The modern campground offers 143 electric sites near the lake. Van Riper also has a 39-site rustic Peshekee River Campground (no hookups) and a small 9-site rustic Group Campground — 191 sites in all, making it one of the larger camping destinations in this part of the central UP. It's also close to iron-mining heritage sites and the historic town of Ishpeming, adding some regional history to a stay centered on the lake.

CampgroundSitesHookupsBest For
Van Riper Modern Campground143 sitesElectricFishing, swimming, families
Peshekee River Rustic Campground39 sitesNone (rustic)Quiet, riverside camping
Van Riper Group Campground9 sitesNone (rustic)Organized groups
Heads up: The nearby McCormick Wilderness has no maintained trails or facilities — it's suited to experienced backcountry hikers with map and compass skills, not a casual day hike.
Local tip: Lake Michigamme is a solid walleye and northern pike fishery — the park's boat launch makes it easy to get out on the water without towing far.

Campground Map

Van Riper State Park map
Van Riper State Park's map showing the campground loop along Lake Michigamme and access to the McCormick Wilderness.

Lake Michigamme & the McCormick Wilderness

The park's signature feature is its dual identity: a developed lakefront campground on Lake Michigamme paired with proximity to the McCormick Wilderness, a rare roadless, trail-free tract of the Ottawa National Forest reserved for genuine backcountry exploration.

How to Get a Reservation

The 6-Month Booking Window

Like all Michigan DNR campgrounds, Van Riper State Park opens reservations exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com.

Set a CampDrop Alert

If your dates are sold out, CampDrop monitors MiDNRReservations.com around the clock and texts you the moment a site opens up at Van Riper.

Reserve directly: MiDNRReservations.com · Park phone: (906) 339-4461

What to Know Before You Go

Hookups & Site Types

All 143 sites at the Modern Campground offer electric service. The Peshekee River Rustic Campground and Group Campground have no hookups.

Season

The park typically operates May through October; confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com.

Pets

Pets are welcome throughout the park on a 6-foot leash.

Fishing & Boating

Lake Michigamme is known for walleye and northern pike, with a boat launch located near the campground.

Directions

Van Riper State Park is located at 851 County Road AKE, Champion, MI 49814, in Marquette County, roughly 35 miles west of Marquette.

Frequently Asked Questions

It's a roadless, trail-free tract of the Ottawa National Forest near the park, reserved for genuine backcountry exploration without maintained trails or facilities.

Van Riper has 191 campsites total: 143 modern electric sites, plus rustic sites at the Peshekee River Campground and Group Campground.

Yes, it's known for walleye and northern pike, with a boat launch located near the campground.

Reservations open exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com. For sold-out dates, a CampDrop alert will text you the moment a cancellation opens up a site.

The park typically operates May through October. Confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com.

It's roughly 35 miles west of Marquette in Marquette County.