Waucedah Township, Mich (WZMQ) – The former site of the Sturgeon Hydroelectric Plant, decommissioned years ago, has been transformed into the Sturgeon River Recreation Park, offering the public a new outdoor haven along four miles of riverfront. The 944-acre property, acquired by Waucedah Township last year, is now accessible for a range of activities, including fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, and coming soon: whitewater rafting.
Kim Van Osdol, Waucedah Township’s committee chairman charged with overseeing the property management, played a key role in the development of the park. “I live on the property connected to this property, and when Waucedah Township bought it a year ago, I offered to be on a committee to figure out what to do with it,” Van Osdol said. “They gave me a budget to work with for this year, so we decided the first area we wanted to clear was around here, so people could get down and fish or kayak or do anything else.”
The transformation of the land was made possible through financing from the Michigan Trust Fund and a significant contribution from the seller, Steve Stock. “The Trust Fund—I don’t know the exact amount, but it was like two-and-a-quarter million dollars,” Van Osdol noted. “The seller put up the 25% down; he donated that to the township.”
The park also benefits from old logging roads cleared by the Superior Watershed Partnership, allowing access from Burgens Road and Foster City Road. Van Osdol added, “We’re talking to Nate [Alwine, of True North Outpost] with the [whitewater] rafting… The ATV club is trying to figure out what they can do, what they want to do here.”
Nate Alwine, owner of True North Outpost, is collaborating with the township to enhance the park’s offerings, particularly in whitewater activities. “We’ve been working with Waucedah Township, who’ve put an incredible effort into purchasing all of this land and turning it into a township park,” Alwine explained. “One of the great things about this is there was a lot of effort that went into removing the dam many, many years ago… what resulted out of that was a tremendous set of rapids.”
Alwine envisions the park putting Dickinson County on the map as a prime destination for whitewater rafting. “We raft Piers Gorge right now; it’s ideal to have what would be a second area option… the Sturgeon River gives us about two miles of smaller rapids upstream that are beautiful for Duckies and for families with children who are 12 and under.”
Plans for the park also include rock climbing, hiking trails with river views, and further development to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. “The goal is to make this park enjoyed by everybody and give you every ability to enjoy it,” Alwine said, noting that they are still in the process of exploring and clearing sections of the river.
The public is encouraged to visit the park, with Van Osdol emphasizing its natural beauty and accessibility. “They should just come in if they want to go down to the river… it’s beautiful, it’s undeveloped,” Van Osdol said. “We’re just excited to have people start to use it.”
Whitewater rafting trips are expected to be available by 2025 available at True North Outpost, making Sturgeon River Park a significant addition to the region’s outdoor recreation offerings.
Waucedah Township welcomes ideas and public input on improving the park’s recreational value, with ideas directed toward Kim Van Osdol and the Waucedah township supervisor.
Currently, True North Outpost offers a range of Whitewater rafting and individual Duckie kayak trips, from day trips to overnights. The True North Outpost offers outdoor rock climbing seasonally, and indoor bouldering year-round. The True North Outpost offers a range of other guided outdoor adventures. For those interested in learning more, or booking a trip, visit:
