The Enchanting Van Riper Lakes

Smile and take a deep breathe…. The Van Riper Lakes will have that effect on you. Lean back in your canoe seat and lay your legs over the gunnels so your toes drag in the water. Hike around the lake so you’re just-right hungry when you get back to the cabin. Hopefully someone is cooking up the bass you caught this morning….

520 acres of room to roam should do it. The bears, otters, wolves, deer and eagles like it there. You can hike, paddle, relax on the cabin’s porch, walk the gravel road, or cook up a nice dinner in the remodeled kitchen.

First, there’s East Van Riper Lake, at 107 lovely acres. It has sand for swimming and launching and rocky areas for fishing. It has trophy large mouth bass and northern pike. It has eagles and hawks.

Second, is West Van Riper Lake, around 40 acres. The cabin overlooks this one; it’s shoreline is a bit more rugged than its eastern neighbor. It is home to an otter family.

Last, a good sized beaver pond is home to well, beavers, and eagles. And fish. Plenty of fish.

The one-room cabin is freshly remodeled and ready for use. It has a new roof, the logs are all refinished inside and out, the kitchen is small but fully functional. It even has a bathroom. A point well is working and a generator provides all the power you need.

Very remarkably, this bit of heaven is about 36 miles from Marquette. 45 minutes or so on good roads, and you have arrived.

Map & Photos

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More about the Enchanting Van Riper Lakes

This property is everything you could need and more. There are not one, but two, beautiful lakes (plus a big beaver pond). There are hiking trails around the big lake. There’s a cabin. Maybe I’m a minimalist, but I’m happy there and feel no need for anything more. Very happy. It’s a sanctuary that helps you remember how excellent the world, and your life, really are.

In one visit I observed a hawk hunting, fish rising, turtles sunning, blooming Lady’s slippers, early-season blueberries, wild raspberries in bloom, lichens in unknowable abundance, bear signs, and too many dragon fly varieties to count. What I did not see: another person. : )

East Van Riper (the big lake–not to be confused with The Big Lake, Lake Superior) is 107 acres with `38′ of depth. That’s plenty for its northern pike, large- and small-mouth bass and various panfish. You won’t go hungry! (Although tucked away in a bay, we must tell you that the original owner, a Van Riper, owns 10 acres on this lake. He is rarely there, friendly, and a good neighbor.)

West Van Riper Lake is about 40 acres and also about 38′ deep. (See the lake charts in the Photo Gallery for details.) It has all of the same fish to catch and release, or eat, if you’re inclined. (You own about 1/3 of the entire frontage; the rest is owned by the State of Michigan and as far as we can tell, they don’t have legal access to it. There are no roads to it, no access points and no people ever witnessed by the property owners.)

The cabin is newly remodeled. It got a new generator with a battery pack, point well, septic, new roof and all of its logs refinished inside and out. The kitchen can rise to any occasion. And unlike many cabins, it has a toilet and shower. Out there, using them is optional. A dip in the lake is a very wonderful bath sometimes.

There are new gravel roads to access the property and a trail around the big lake. It has new gates and locks to make sure your privacy is protected.

This amazingly intact tract is just a 45 minute drive on good roads from Marquette. If that’s too far and just need a few things at the grocery, the Michigamme Market is about 15 minutes away and has the staples.

It’s a beauty, and fairly priced at $2,349,000.

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August 8, 2016