Yurts offer winter camping in comfort

IDAHO CITY, Idaho - The Mongolians would never have imagined it.

The popularity of yurts as winter getaways among modern-day cross-country skiers and snowshoers continues to grow as more people realize it's an easy way to spend a night in Idaho's snowy mountains.

Most yurts are basically the same - circular, domed tents, ranging about 20 to 30 feet in diameter. They have plywood floors, canvas-and-lattice sidewalls and a skylight. Most come with bunks, chairs, a table and cooking equipment, and plenty of hooks to hang clothing and gear.

And in most cases, all skiers and snowshoers have to haul in is a sleeping bag, personal gear and food.

Casual winter explorers have a mountain of choices in yurts from those at state parks, which are an easy hike, to isolated ones in the backcountry and wilderness areas that may require treks of several miles.

Yurts are available through public agencies and private operators.

Prices range from $80 a night to $175, depending on the location and amenities.

State parks

Yurts at Idaho state parks are a good introduction to yurting.

They are located in a more controlled setting in the park.

In most cases, you can drive up to the yurts, which makes it easy to pack gear right out of the trunk of your rig.

The yurts are near restrooms, too.

State parks with yurts include: Winchester, Harriman, Lake Cascade and Castle Rocks. Lake Cascade's yurts are for groups.

Go to parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/activities/yurts.

Idaho City yurts

If you want to go from a park to deeper in the forest and venture a few miles from the highway, that kind of experience is available at Idaho City backcountry yurts.

The six yurts, operated by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation on U.S. Forest Service land, are located about 1.5 hours (56-63 miles), north of Boise off Idaho 21.

This is the next logical step in yurting after renting a yurt at a state park. However, a lot of beginners go straight to an Idaho City yurt.

The yurts require cross-country skiing or snowshoeing a couple miles or so, and hauling in your gear on a sled or in a backpack.

They are located along an extensive cross-country ski and snowshoe trail system. Outhouses are near the yurts.

Go to parksandrecreation.idaho.gov and click on "backcountry yurts."

Bogus Basin

The yurt located off the Nordic Highway in Bogus Basin's Nordic trail system is an easy overnighter for novice skiers and snowshoers.

It is located less than a mile from the Frontier Point Nordic Lodge. It doesn't get any easier than that.

Go to bogusbasin.org.

Sunrise Retreat

Sunrise Retreat offers a 30-foot yurt, named Buggaboo Bungalow, just south of the Tamarack Resort on West Mountain.

It sleeps eight and has a view of Lake Cascade.

The hike-in is a 1/4-mile during the winter months, but during the other three seasons you can drive right to it.

Like most yurts, there is no electricity or plumbing, but it does have a wood-burning fireplace and a propane fireplace.

Might be a good place if you're skiing Tamarack or ice fishing at Lake Cascade.

Go to sunriseretreat.net or call 863-3120.

Payette Powder Guides

You'll find backcountry glades and bowls for skiing and boarding at Lick Creek Summit Yurts near McCall, operated by Payette Powder Guides.

PPG offers multiday guided trips and classes.

You can get to an area once dubbed "Idaho's Andes" on a full-day ski trek, or by snowmobiles or snow cat.

Go to payettepowderguides.com.

Payette Lake Alpine

Guides offer winter adventures to backcountry huts that are for rent and also backcountry ski and snowshoe tours.

The huts are located in the mountains east of Payette Lake and northeast of McCall.

Go to payettelakesalpineyurts.com.

Galena Lodge

Galena Lodge, between Ketchum and Stanley on Idaho 75, offers easy-to-get-to yurts.

The lodge has three yurts available for rent. They are located on the ridge above the lodge and are accessible by a short ski or snowshoe trek.

The lodge provides one sled per yurt for gear.

For an additional fee, snowmobile service can be provided for hauling gear or those with limited mobility.

Most people bring their own food and enjoy cooking meals with their family and friends. Others join the staff at the lodge for dinner. Galena also offers a gourmet yurt menu that can be delivered to the yurt.

Go to galenalodge.com.

Sun Valley Trekking

Sun Valley Trekking offers wilderness hut rentals at six locations in the Sawtooth, Smoky and Pioneer mountains near Sun Valley.

Ski-in trails range from 1.5 miles to 6 miles, depending on the yurt.

Each hut is a little different, some are Mongolian-styled round yurts and some are western-styled wall tents.

Go to svtrek.com.

Sawtooth Mountain Guides

Sawtooth Mountain Guides operates the Williams Peak Hut, located at 8,000 feet on the flanks of Williams Peak in the northern Sawtooth Range.

It offers a variety of terrain for skiing and is conducive for novice skiers and big mountain skiers alike.

You can book a fully guided hut skiing adventure and leave the planning to the guides.

They supply meals and porter the food to the hut so your packs stay light.

Once at the hut, guides take you out on the snow.

Experienced backcountry skiers can also rent the hut themselves.

Go to sawtoothguides.com.