More back-to-nature than a motel room and less hassle than a tent, yurts are patterned after traditional structures used by Mongolian nomads. A waterproof outer skin sits atop a semipermanent wooden frame, with layers of natural insulating fiber between that keep the interior toasty in the winter and cool in the summer. Yurts have windows and skylights to let in light and summer breezes, and those near Yosemite sit atop wooden platforms that keep the floor above the snow and cool earth below.
Yosemite Lakes Campground (yurtsatyosemite.com) rents hillside yurts and riverside yurts. Both types include a fully equipped kitchen with a stove, microwave, refrigerator and all the cookware and utensils needed to prepare and eat your meals. The bathroom allows you to enjoy a hot shower in the privacy of your yurt, and a combination of queen and full-size beds and futons provide sleeping quarters for up to four people. The riverside yurts have an extra bunk to sleep an additional person. Each yurt has an outside deck with propane grill. Campfire rings are provided at some yurts, which may only be used when no fire restrictions are in effect. Four of the campground's hillside yurts allow pets.
You’ll find basic yurts at Yosemite Pines (yosemitepinesrv.com) that sleep up to five people. A full-size futon and bunk bed with a full-size bed on the bottom comprise the sleeping accommodations, with bed linens provided. Countertop kitchen appliances include a small refrigerator, coffee pot and microwave oven. The yurts do not have their own bathrooms, but are just a short stroll from the campground’s shower and restroom facility. A small television is provided with cable hookup, as well as a coffee table and nightstand.
May through October are the busiest months in Yosemite, with between 300,000 and 650,000 visitors each month. These months also provide the most pleasant temperatures, with daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit, which is ideal for hiking and other outdoor pursuits. Visitors at the beginning and end of the season can observe beautiful displays of springtime wildflowers and autumn foliage. You also can rent a yurt during the winter months, with snowshoeing and cross-country trails nearby in Yosemite National Park. The greatest amount of snow falls in January, when temperatures remain below freezing at night and stays below 50 degrees during the day.
