If the hectic holiday season left you feeling like you need a detox from the stresses of too many parties and too many errands, we have the antidote: A weekend (or more) under wide-open, clear skies at the Willow Glamping Yurt at Castle Rocks State Park located in Southern Idaho.
The Willow Glamping Yurt isn’t your typical hardscrabble backcountry lodging. This is outdoor living at its best, with a king-size bed and soft linens, a huge deck, electric heat, and amenities like a built-in fire ring and a propane grill. The yurt is situated in a grassy meadow, and nearby Almo Creek curves through stands of willows.
The yurt is a great place to unwind, says Wallace Keck, superintendent at the City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park. “If I had a night in the glamping yurt, I would hike some trails, come back and cook some steaks on the gas grill provided, sit on the deck with a favorite beverage and listen to the gurgling of Almo Creek, stare out at Cache Peak and dream of climbing it again, read a good book in the king bed until I fell asleep, and then wake to coffee on the deck.”
Dark sky lovers will want to book soon for the upcoming total lunar eclipse and blue moon on Jan. 31 or the Lyrids meteor shower on April 22-23. There isn’t much snow yet at Castle Rocks, Keck says, but the weather has been mild and perfect for hiking, horseback riding, photography, or winter birding (you can cross a pinyon jay off your list or hear the eerie sounds of great horned owls).
Keck says there is no minimum-night stay for the yurt, which sleeps four thanks to an additional futon. However, you will want to make a reservation to secure your spot — the views of monoliths, spires, and Cache Peak are sure to go fast as word gets out about this hideaway. Follow the link above or call (208) 824-5901 for more information.
How to Get There
From Boise:
Take I-84 to exit 216; head south on Idaho 77 to Conner Creek Junction, then southwest on the Elba-Almo Road. One half mile south of the visitor center in Almo, turn right (west) onto 3075 South for 500 feet, then turn left (south) onto Smoky Mountain Drive for 1.2 miles to 729 E and the campground entrance.
From Pocatello/Idaho Falls:
Take I-86 and I-84 to exit 216; head south on Idaho 77 to Conner Creek Junction, then southwest on the Elba-Almo Road. One half mile south of the visitor center in Almo, turn right (west) onto 3075 South for 500 feet, then turn left (south) onto Smoky Mountain Drive for 1.2 miles to 729 E and the campground entrance.
From Salt Lake City:
Take I-84 to exit 245 (Sublett/Malta), then head west toward Malta. Turn left (south) onto Highway 81 for .2 miles to Highway 77, then turn right (west). At Conner Creek Junction, head southwest on the Elba-Almo Road. One half mile south of the visitor center in Almo, turn right (west) onto 3075 South for 500 feet, then turn left (south) onto Smoky Mountain Drive for 1.2 miles to 729 E and the campground entrance.
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