Grizzly Ridge Yurt

Overview

Grizzly Ridge Yurt is located on the Ashley National Forest, approximately 20 air miles north of Vernal in eastern Utah. It provides year-round primitive lodging for guests. The yurt is open for reservations all months except November, April and May. Hiking, off-roading, skiing and snowshoeing are the most popular activities in the area. 

Call the District Office at (435) 789-1181 three business days prior to a reserved visit to confirm door lock combination. District Office is closed Saturday and Sunday. Lock combination is REQUIRED to enter yurt.

 

Recreation

Numerous hiking, biking and off-road trails crisscross the area. Guests enjoy hiking up the trail to 9,335-foot Grizzly Ridge. In winter months, endless cross country skiing and snowshoeing trails are right out the front door.

Facilities

The yurt is approximately 314 square-feet (less than 20 feet in diameter) with limited amenities. No plumbing, running water or electricity is provided. The maximum capacity of overnight guests at the yurt is (8) people. Tent camping is allowed outside. Two bunk beds with full size mattresses are provided that will sleep four to eight people. No linens, bedding or pillows are provided. The yurt is equipped with a heavy-duty propane camp stove for cooking and a wood-burning stove for heat. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PROPANE CAMP CHEF IS CURRENTLY OUT OF ORDER. IT WILL BE FIXED BY SUMMER SEASON, BUT THERE WILL BE NO PROPANE STOVE FOR THE REMAINDER OF MARCH. BE PREPARED TO COOK ON THE STOVE TOP (FIREPLACE). Very limited cookware is provided. Guests are required to bring their own cooking supplies.

 

The yurt remains locked; call the Vernal Ranger District office, at (435) 789-1181, three business days prior to arrival, to confirm the combination lock code. COMBINATION CODE REQUIRED to enter yurt. (Some combination locks used have off-set entry lines. If code is not working, try off-setting entry line). A portable propane Coleman lantern is supplied but guests must bring extra propane bottles and mantles. The Forest Service provides propane for the cook stove and firewood for the wood stove. A vault toilet is located outside the yurt.

When driving to the yurt in the summer months please be sure to use the summer road. The winter road is only accessible to ATVs in the summer and skiing in the winter. Please do not drive full sized vehicles on the winter road. 

Natural Features

The yurt is situated in a small clearing surrounded by pines and aspens, at an elevation of 9,200 feet. From the deck, guests are awarded beautiful views toward Red Fleet Reservoir and Vernal off in the distance. Wildlife and summer wildflowers are abundant.

Nearby Attractions

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is known not only for its beautiful red cliffs, but also for its world-class fishing for brown and rainbow trout. Boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities on the reservoir, which can be accessed within 25 miles of the yurt. 

The Ashley-Karst National Geologic Recreation Area offers dramatic canyons, densely forested backcountry areas, and vast networks of caves.

Follow the mileage indications below and watch for signs when traveling to Grizzly Ridge Yurt. Leave with plenty of time to arrive at the yurt before dark. A high-clearance vehicle with four-wheel drive is required to access the yurt.

From Vernal, Utah, travel north on U.S. Highway 191 (Vernal Avenue) approximately 25.5 miles. Slow down when approaching the snowdrift fence along the curve in the road and look for the jeep road at the gap in the fence. Turn left (northwest) onto the jeep road/Forest Road 181. Once on Forest Road 181, reset travel odometer to zero. At 0.5 miles, continue on Forest Road 181 (look for blue Little Brush Creek sign). At 0.8 miles, continue straight (northwest) on Forest Road 181 (look for blue Grizzly Ridge sign). At 0.9 miles, continue on Forest Road 181/Trail 152B. At 1 mile, take the right fork and head north on Forest Trail 152B. At 1.5 miles, stay right to meet up with the ski trail. At 1.9 miles, go left to merge with ski trail that winds up the road. At 2.7 miles, look for yurt on left (south) side of road.

UTM = 626656E, 4511378N