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Yurt Camping in Utah: How To Have a Wintertime Yurt Excursion

Yurt Camping in Utah: How To Have a Wintertime Yurt Excursion

Whether you’re glamping or choosing a simpler option, yurt camping in Utah during the wintertime is a fun, unique experience you won’t want to miss out on.

A yurt surrounded by a small fence, situated in the middle of a snowy landscape under a starry night sky.

Dead Horse Point State Park | Utah State Parks

Utah offers some of the best yurt camping in the country, any time of the year. Whether you want an all-inclusive glamping experience or a simple, cozy place to rest after skiing or hiking, travelers find yurt rentals throughout the state — from Southern Utah to the High Uintas.

Yurt Camping in the La Sals and Moab

Even if you’ve never been to the La Sals, you’ve likely driven by them on Interstate 70 west of Grand Junction. The mountain range stays snow-capped well into summer and towers over Moab from every direction, most famously in the window of Delicate Arch. (If you’ve never camped at the Sand Flats Recreation Area, consider staking out a spot to view the sunset over the La Sals.)

The La Sals have long been the summertime escape from the Moab heat — Edward Abbey famously journeyed into the hills to get out of the blistering triple-digit temperatures — but they’re visited far less frequently in the winter months. This is good news for hardy adventurers because if you’re willing to make an effort when the snow starts to fall, you can have this rugged range largely to yourself.

Imagine swishing or snowshoeing along in the bright snow on a characteristically blue southeastern Utah morning. You can see some of the country’s most iconic views from here: Arches National Park and Castle Valley to the north, the distant Henry Mountains just beyond the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park to the west. And after an adventurous day outdoors, you can soak up some solitude in a cozy, backcountry yurt.

The La Sals stay snow-capped well into summer and tower over Moab from every direction.

Photo: Jay Beyer

Yurts are a great way to explore the backcountry while still having a comfortable place to spend the night, even in the winter.

Photo: Jay Beyer

Talking Mountain Yurts in the La Sals

The Talking Mountain Yurts opened in 2016 after almost two years of construction. Owned by Jonathan Dutrow and Will Kelly and operated under a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service, the three Talking Mountain Yurts are intentionally situated close to trailheads, meaning visitors can wake up, walk out the door and get to adventuring.

Two of the three yurts are open year-round, meaning they’re the perfect base camp for your winter adventures in the La Sals. The 24-foot Geyser Pass Yurt is 10,500 feet near the base of Haystack Mountain and close to the trailhead for the world-famous Whole Enchilada mountain bike trail. It’s also close to Moonlight Meadows and Burro Pass. Geyser Pass Yurt houses up to eight winter visitors in two bunk beds — one on the top and two on the bottom — and a full-size futon.

The yurt features a kitchen with cooking equipment, a dining area, and a wood-burning stove for maximum coziness. It also has a small library with games, books, and magazines. For overnight stays, bring your outdoor gear, food and bedding (a sleeping bag is recommended). Keep in mind: There is no electricity in the yurts.

The winter parking lot for the Geyser Pass Yurt is just 25 miles from Moab proper, leaving you with about a 3.7-mile tour on snowshoes, cross-country skis or snowmobile from the trailhead into the yurt. The well-maintained trail is mostly groomed, except for the last quarter-mile to your base camp. Book the yurt online, with slightly lowered nightly pricing as the length of your stay increases.

If the tour into the Geyser Pass Yurt sounds like a bit much, consider a shorter tour into the 20-foot Gold Basin Yurt (only available in the winter), which also sleeps up to eight people and is just a mile-and-a-half trip on a groomed well-marked trail. There’s minimal elevation gain from the winter trailhead, so the tour usually takes less than an hour, depending on your mode of travel.

Intermediate experience is recommended to access both yurts, but this one is better for those still getting their bearings. (There’s a quicker way that involves cutting a mile of groomed trail, so depending on your backcountry experience, it can be a shortcut or a similar travel time.)

The Gold Basin Yurt trailhead is about a 45 to 60-minute drive from Moab, depending on travel conditions, and the building is equipped with all the amenities as its counterpart. Book it online well in advance — availability is often limited since this yurt is so accessible. Winter bookings typically become available in May. The third yurt in the Talking Mountain family is the Jimmy Keen Yurt, but it’s temporarily closed. For those who might have questions about the best gear to pack for these remote yurts, Talking Mountain Yurts provides a handy winter packing list.

Moenkopi Yurts Near Moab

The Moenkopi Yurts at Dead Horse Point State Park, lie 32 miles outside Moab. These five yurts include sleeping space for up to six people, heating/AC, electrical outlets, an outdoor propane grill and incredible views of the Intrepid Trail System. Restrooms with running water are located within short walking distance.

For seclusion and incredible views of the Intrepid Trail System, stay at the Moenkopi Yurts at Dead Horse Point State Park.

Photo: Utah State Parks

Yurt Rentals Near Zion National Park

Gooseberry Mesa Yurts

Choose from four available yurts on the North Rim of Gooseberry Mesa just past the Windmill Trailhead. The yurts are located seven miles down a dirt road, which can be difficult to access in extreme weather, so check-in after dark isn’t recommended. These are rustic yurts without running water or electricity.

Zion Glamping Adventures

Zion Glamping Adventures offers relaxing, elevated yurt camping with 21 cozy bell tents in a peaceful cove surrounded by the Canaan Mountains, The tents are located in the southernmost part of Utah, near the Utah and Arizona border, just 45 minutes from Zion National Park.

Under Canvas Zion

Under Canvas Zion is a premier outfitter for upscale outdoor accommodations, with awards from Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. Located on 196 acres of remote desert terrain, the safari-inspired tents sit 20 miles from the Zion National Park Springdale entrance. Sleep under open desert skies surrounded by incredible views of sandstone cliffs and majestic rocks.

East Zion Resort

Enjoy a modern, luxury yurt experience at the beautiful East Zion Resort. These yurts include AC/heating and power, a bathroom area with running water and kitchen amenities like a microwave, coffeemaker and small refrigerator. With a patio overlooking the beautiful mountains, you can enjoy a peaceful evening at your yurt or walk to the shared pool and hot tub.

In the wintertime, yurt camping can make for a prime stargazing location.

Photo: Bret Edge

Some yurts come equipped with amenities like outdoor grills.

Photo: Utah State Parks

After a day of skiing or hiking, yurts are a great gathering place for friends.

Photo: Utah State Parks

More Yurt Rentals in Utah

Escalante Yurts

Escalante Yurts is Utah’s original yurt rental outfitter. Located just one and a half miles from Escalante, it’s the perfect basecamp for visiting Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. Each luxury yurt includes heating and air conditioning, kitchen amenities, a private bathroom and a private deck with an outdoor grill.

Ashley National Forest Yurts

The beautiful Ashley National Forest covers 1.3 million acres (1.2 million in northeastern Utah and 96,000 in southwestern Wyoming) and ranges from 6,000 to 13,500 feet above sea level. Two yurts within the forest are more primitive and off the beaten path: Grizzly Ridge Yurt and Limber Flag Yurt.

Both yurts are approximately 314 square feet and do not include running water, plumbing, or electricity. They have two bunk beds with full-sized mattresses. The yurts have a heavy-duty propane camp stove for cooking, a wood-burning stove for heating and a folding table with chairs.

Goblin Valley State Park

Goblin Valley State Park has two yurts available year-round. The yurts are accessible by car and are furnished with bunk beds. Each yurt can accommodate up to five guests. No blankets, pillows, cookware, plates, etc. are provided so guests must provide their own.

Things to Know

Winter Safety Precautions

Yurts found in the mountain ranges have their share of unpredictable weather. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe:

Always check the forecast before heading out to ensure you’ve got everything you need.
Anytime you’re traveling in the backcountry in winter, you should think about avalanches — they can happen on slopes as shallow as 25 degrees, so you should be aware of the possibility. (Read: Hiring a Backcountry Ski Guide)
CheckUtah Avalanche Center’s advisory before heading out, and bring rescue gear if you’re venturing off the groomed trails and onto steeper slopes.

Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding

Hard-working ski patrols keep the terrain inside ski area boundaries extremely safe from avalanches. Those leaving the ski area boundaries or entering the backcountry from a trailhead need standard avalanche rescue gear and training and should regularly consult the Utah Avalanche Center website for critical avalanche safety information before venturing out in search of the goods.

More About Utah's Backcountry