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Camp 437 in the Sturgeon Valley

99%
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· Vanderbilt, Otsego, Michigan
40 acres hosted by Dove And John D.
1 lodging site · 2 RV/tent sites
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Best in Michigan: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.
Dove and John is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Private sites
99% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.
We book only 2 sites at a time on our 40 acre property so you can enjoy a more secluded experience in the woods. Our property is undeveloped, so you will need to bring drinking water, but there's no need to worry about finding firewood before your arrive as we supply you with a free bundle that is waiting for you when you get here! There are 1 1/2 miles of marked, wooded trails that will guide you to the river's edge where you can enjoy the beauty and wildlife along the West Branch of the Sturgeon River. It will feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere, yet the convenience of the small town of Vanderbilt is just three miles away. We are located just three miles off of I-75. The larger town of Gaylord is only a 15 minute drive south. There's lots to do here in beautiful Northern Michigan! Only a few miles from our camp you can go for a swim at Thumb Lake Park or take a bike ride along the North Central State Trail in Vanderbilt. Drive 15 minutes north and you can canoe or kayak the main branch of the Sturgeon River in Wolverine. There are many great hiking trails in the Pigeon River State Forest and the North Country National Scenic Trail is only 6 miles away. This 40 acre parcel has been in our family since the 1950s. My grandparents originally designated it as a tree farm and planted and harvested lumber from it. As a boy scout leader, my grandfather hosted many boy scout troops here and even hosted a boy scout Jamboree in the 1970s. Back then the property was referred to as the "Tree Farm", but after my husband John and I inherited it in 2014 we started calling it Camp 437. Before we inherited the property we spent time camping there and building trails. One of the trails we built was named the "Burns Trail" in honor of my grandparents. Since we acquired the property we have added a one mile loop that circles the perimeter of the property, and a total of about 1 1/2 miles of trail.
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99%
189 ratings · 124 reviews
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Joseph R.recommends
October 24, 2023
Woods Site
Camping with friends
Camping at Dove & Johns place is a must! They were super accommodating and the nicest people ever. Do not hesitate to book a stay here
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Joseph R.recommends
October 23, 2023
Forest Hill Site
Camping with friends
We loved staying at Dove & John's Place! Great people that went above and beyond to make sure our camping experience was great. I Recommend this place to people considering on staying.
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Dave W.recommends
October 2, 2023
Woods Site
I tent camped at this site and it fit my needs perfectly. There are a everal flat options for the tent. I especially liked the high “kitchen” counter that made preparing meals comfortable vs on a lower picnic table.
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Anna P.recommends
October 1, 2023
Woods Site
One of the cutest private camping spots I’ve been to! Really appreciated the grates on the fire and the cute bench. The rain shelter was an excellent touch, as it did in fact rain. Beautiful property! Definitely recommend for a little private getaway
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Brendan S.recommends
September 25, 2023
Forest Hill Site
A+++
The new campsite was awesome and very secluded. The owners are fantastic and I would highly recommend staying at any campsite on the property!
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Dean And Jackie S.recommends
September 23, 2023
Camp 437 Tipi site
Cool site! We also loved the rain shelter. It was raining when we got there, so we waited out the rain, playing games in the rain shelter. We also have our own Hipcamp, and we want to build something similar!
Location
Vanderbilt, Otsego, Michigan, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Odawa, and Wyandot First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Dove And John D.Joined in July 2017
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