Van Riper State Park
About
Van Riper State Park is a 1,097-acre state park in Michigan, about 1.3 miles from the town of Michigamme. It is managed by the state park agency, State Park and Recreation. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical July and August highs reach about 77°F with lows near 50°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station. Winters are severe, with January highs around 23°F. The closest outing is the Miners Loop, a hike about 0.9 miles away. White Deer Lake and Lower Baraga Lake are both within about 8.5 miles, and the West Branch Peshekee River, a canoeing route, is about 9 miles off.
Park size
1,097 acres
Location
Van Riper State Park
Michigan
Data source: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (Protected Areas Database, public domain)
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: May–Sep. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 66–77°F and lows of 35–51°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Champion Van Riper Pk, MI weather station, 1.2 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan23° high2° low
- Feb26° high-1° low
- Mar38° high9° low
- Apr50° high23° low
- May66° high35° low
- Jun75° high45° low
- Jul77° high51° low
- Aug77° high49° low
- Sep69° high43° low
- Oct54° high31° low
- Nov39° high20° low
- Dec26° high9° low
Where it is
- Van Riper State Park · State park
- Nearest town
- Michigamme, Michigan · 1.3 mi
- Managed by
- State Park and Recreation
Nearby
- Van Riper State Park - Miners LoopHiking0.9 mi
- White Deer LakeHiking7.8 mi
Lower Baraga LakeHikingPhoto: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)8.5 mi- West Branch Peshekee RiverCanoeing9 mi
- Upper Baraga LakeHikingPhoto: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)9.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Van Riper State Park
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
23° / 2°
Feb
26° / -1°
Mar
38° / 9°
Apr
50° / 23°
May
66° / 35°
Jun
75° / 45°
Jul
77° / 51°
Aug
77° / 49°
Sep
69° / 43°
Oct
54° / 31°
Nov
39° / 20°
Dec
26° / 9°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Champion Van Riper Pk, MI, 1.2 mi away at 1,599 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
