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Camp 437 in the Sturgeon Valley

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· Vanderbilt, Otsego, Michigan

40 acres hosted by Dove And John D.

2 RV/tent sites

Private sites

99% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.

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.

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 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.

Activities

Biking

Fishing

Hiking

Paddling

Natural features

Forest

River, stream, or creek

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100%

200 ratings · 133 reviews

Karen P.recommends

July 22, 2024

Forest Hill Site

Lose yourself in the woods

Convenient access from I-75 yet campsites feel remote and private. Hosts do an excellent job of making the sites comfortable. If you have the chance, do get the chimney log! What a fun experience!

Mark L.recommends

July 22, 2024

Woods Site

Woodsy quietness

Great setting, surrounded by trees, very little bugs. If anything, this site is too quiet. We did hear loud engines and possibly gunshots around 3am, but it was a Saturday night.

Amanda A.recommends

July 8, 2024

Forest Hill Site

I loved the marked hiking trails. They were well marked and easy to follow. The campsite felt clean and secluded. Overall, ideal camping.

Lorena C.recommends

July 8, 2024

Forest Hill Site

I absolutely loved this campsite. It was very well maintained and perfect distance for some really cool spots. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to do some beginners camping.

Linda G.recommends

July 7, 2024

Woods Site

Last minute booking Oasis!

My husband and I were looking for a place last minute over the 4th of July weekend. Dove and John responded right away to our request. We were only there one night. We would highly recommend the wooded location.

Mirella B.recommends

July 7, 2024

Woods Site

Camping at Dove and John’s campsite was a great experience. It is very quiet and they had nice extra amenities like a rain shelter. Dove was very kind! I would highly recommend.

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