Tag: yurt

Best Locations for Enjoying National Take a Hike Day

Since 1976, the third Thursday in November has been recognized as National Take a Hike Day. It was created “to encourage people to connect with nature and recognize the physical and mental benefits of hiking.” Of course, we don’t need a special day to remind us about the benefits of activity, especially activity experienced outdoors, among nature, but we’d like to highlight some places good for hiking if you’re looking for somewhere near to your glamping spot this November. And did you know that the word hike means “a long walk, especially in the country or wilderness.” Here are a few options to “go take a hike!”


If you’re glamping in a glamping cabin or cottage at Thousand Trails Pio Pico, you can enjoy one of several hiking options in San Diego’s Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. The trail is mostly flat, and the all-in 3-mile hike is not necessarily challenging deemed one of best hikes in San Diego thanks to the views of natural cliff formations and coastal arches.

Thousand Trails Pio Pico
Thousand Trails Pio Pico

Did you know there are roughly 120 miles of trails within the city limits of Seattle? Reserve a yurt or glamping cottage at Tall Chief Campground and head over to Discovery Park that offers 12 miles of trails within a 534-acre forest. A recommended hike is the shorter 2.8-mile Washington Trails Association Loop that takes hikers through dense forested areas as well as open meadows and offers great views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Yurt at Tall Chief Campground
Yurt at Tall Chief Campground

Plan to hike among the beautiful red rocks in Sedona and check out some of the most popular, and photo worthy, hikes found here. Devil’s Bridge is a 2.2-mile out and back with stunning photo ops; Cathedral Rock, probably the most photo worthy, but you have to work for it since despite the shorter distance there is an elevation change of over 700 feet. Book a stay at a tiny house in Thousand Trails Verde Valley to enjoy hiking here.

Tiny Houses at Thousand Trails Verde Valley
Tiny Houses at Thousand Trails Verde Valley

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Hike and Yurt – Our Favorite Four-Letter Words!

Yurt at Mount Vernon RV Campground, Bow, WAWe’ve detailed the benefits of camping in our yurts many times – spacious yet comfortable, close to nature yet shielded from the elements, and, they are ready and waiting so you can get camping the minute you arrive at your destination!

We’ve also detailed the benefits of hiking many times – regularly hiking lowers your risk of heart diseases, lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, boosts bone density, strengthens your core and elevates your mood.

Combine all those benefits and it’s no wonder Hike and Yurt are some our favorite four-letter words. Toss in our Washington yurt accommodations and the benefits multiply as the state is home to five different locations that offer yurt lodging and all offer proximity to hiking trails that can’t be beat.

Grandy Creek RV Campground (Concrete): The Cascade Trail Head is an easily-accessible, 22.5-mile trail that runs along the Skagit River Valley with farmland and wildlife views. It is crushed stone and gravel and fairly level and there are some benches along the way for resting. A highlight is the historic Henry Thompson Bridge at trails’ end in Concrete. At the time it was completed in 1918, it was the largest single span cement bridge in the world. The bridge is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Long Beach RV & Camping Resort, Seaview, WA

Long Beach RV Campground (Seaview): AllTrails.com lists 11 hiking trails in Cape Disappointment State Park, which is just a five-minute drive from the campground, or a 15-minute bike ride via the Discovery Trail. Most of 11 trails listed with AllTrails are rated easy to moderate so everyone can enjoy the hike. The Bells’ View Overlooks Trail (0.5 miles) is rated for all hikers and offers beautiful views of the wildflowers and the bay. The Discovery Trail itself is 14 miles roundtrip, and takes hikers over the sand dunes via the boardwalk, provides views of the ocean and even a sculpture of William Clark, for whom the trail is named, along with his travel companion, Meriwether Lewis!

Mount Vernon RV Campground (Bow): The Padilla Bay Shore Trail takes you along the bay where the Skagit River meets the Salish Sea and makes it one of the most diverse and biologically productive of the major estuaries on the Puget Sound. It is a 2.25-mile trail that can be easily trekked. Binoculars are a must!

Paradise RV Campground (Silver Creek): One of the stars here is the Skagit River Valley – an opportunity to explore the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the largest temperature rain forests in the US, via a hike along the Hoh River Trail. Mt. St. Helens National Monument is another opportunity for hiking as it offers more than 200 miles of trails that offers views of wildflowers, mountains, lakes and even the devastation caused by the 1980 eruption.

Yurt at Tall Chief RV & Camping Resort, Fall City, WA

Tall Chief RV Campground (Fall City): April to October is the best time to take a hike and view the beauty of Snoqualmie Falls, which is less than four miles from the campground.  Of course, the highlight here is the 268-foot waterfall and good to note, it’s an easy hike for everyone. Sit on the rocks near the base of the falls and take in another great show from Mother Nature.  Take a longer drive (about 40 miles) and explore a more difficult trail at the Lake Lilian Trail, an 8-mile trail that is a favorite of birders!

Book your Hike/Yurt summer adventure today – go to the petiteretreats.com/accomodations_yurts and get moving!

Yurt Stays with Petite Retreats

As the saying goes, “there’s no place like home,”so it would be fitting if you chose to spend a winter getaway in a yurt, which means “home” in Mongolian. Now add in some California sunshine and you’ve got a delightful mix that combines for a memorable trip. Book a stay at one of the yurts at Lake of the Springs RV Resort in Oregon House, California, and you’re on the road to a cozy, homey retreat.

There’s plenty of neat things about yurt camping. First, there’s no extra gear and no set up required. Simply open the door and explore the roomy yurt. Thanks to its circular design, the yurt provides plenty of living and sleeping space. And when we say sleeping space, we don’t mean space for your typical camping bedroll, but a real bed (sometimes a bunk bed)! This is the true definition of glamping. As for the living space, many yurts at our Petite Retreats locations have refrigerators, microwave ovens, kitchen tables and a furnished seating area for relaxing. The yurts also have outside decks that provide more space for fun and activities. Best of all, the yurts have heat so your winter getaway will be warm and cozy, for sure!

Children fishing at Lake of the Springs RV Resort

As for location, Lake of the Springs is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains and the towering pines and 120-acre lake add to the resort’s charm. The cozy lodge is the perfect spot to enjoy some social time and to enjoy the magnificent views of nature through floor to ceiling windows. The resort has shuffleboard and horseshoes, tennis and pickleball courts, a game room with a billiards table, and other sporting options including volleyball, basketball, and mini-golf. The lake in winter can be used for canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddling. Hiking trails round out the wonderful recreation opportunities at Lake of the Springs.

For more outdoor adventure, check out the Sutter Buttes, outside nearby Yuba City. The Buttes have actual eroded lava domes, formed more than a million years ago, that rise above the area’s flat plains. They are often called the smallest mountain range in the world. You can explore the buttes via car, bicycle, or on foot with an interpretive hike.

A unique destination is the Bok Kai Temple in Marysville. During the Gold Rush Days, the Chinese came to the area to work the mines and erected the first temple in 1854 on the banks of the Yuba River. The location of the temple provided the name, Bok which means north, and Kai, which means stream: Temple of the North Side of the Stream. The exterior grounds contain a garden and beautiful pagoda. It’s a must-see for architecture and history buffs.

For the best of winter activities, head to Tahoe National Forest with its miles and miles of trails for cross-country skiing. Downhill skiers can hit the slopes at many nearby ski resorts including Tahoe Donner and Squaw Valley Resort, host to the 1960 Winter Olympics. Check out the Olympic Museum if you’re visiting Squaw Valley.

We’ve got yurt next adventure lined up! Visit PetiteRetreats.com to book your next adventure, today!