Winter in Minnesota can be brutal. We try to make the most of it by plugging into winter activities like skating, skiing and even camping. Another way to take advantage of winter in Minnesota is to camp in a yurt. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area offers yurt camping year-round (no electricity, water or sewer; heat via a wood stove). The yurts made their debut about four years ago, so we dressed in layers and set out to try yurt camping at Cuyuna Country Recreation Area.
Warming the Yurt
Reservations for yurt camping at Cuyuna Country Recreation Area are hard to get. My first thought after scoring a coveted spot was about how this canvas tent was going to stay warm when overnight temperatures dipped into the teens. After all, the yurt is simply covered in insulated canvas and set upon a raised wood floor. The recreation area provides pre-cut wood for the stoves, which was very convenient. It did take tending to, but the stove was able to keep us comfortable at around 70 degrees.
Furnishings in the yurt included two sets of bunk beds and a table with seating for four. Outside the yurt are a shelter and picnic table, a fire ring, and a bear-proof storage container. The recreation area also provides sleds and carts for hauling supplies and pre-cut wood to and from the yurt. Cuyuna has three yurts located near Yawkey Mine Lake. We stayed in the Silkstone Yurt. Silkstone is about one-tenth of a mile from the parking lot. It is also close to the park’s vault toilet and potable water source.
Winter fun at the yurt
The first night in the yurt was spent settling in and learning how to keep the yurt warm using the woodstove. Cuyuna Recreation Area is well known for its system of mountain/fat bike trails. Although we did not utilize the bike trails, we did enough the yurt camping and scenery. We enjoyed making winter outdoor meals, hiking the trails surrounding Yawkey Lake, building snow forts, coloring by camp stove light and a winter campfire.
Our trip to Cuyuna Country was a great introduction to winter camping. We were able to stay warm and comfortable. However, using a vault toilet in the winter isn’t all that pleasant. Despite that, our experience allowed us to make the most of all the winter beauty and activities Minnesota has to offer.
To make a reservation to camp in a yurt in one of three Minnesota State Parks that features them, click here. Yurts are available at Cuyuna Country, Glendalough State Park and Afton State Park. Book early as they are popular. If you’re interested in winter activities in the state parks, check out Mommy Baggage’s trip to Frontenac State Park and Jay Cook State Park.
Happy Adventuring, Rochelle