Snow Mountain Ranch Yurts in Colorado

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Camping in a yurt near Rocky Mountain National Park

It was high-time we tried our hand at glamping in a yurt.

So, we loaded up our van and joined another family of six and headed out to the YMCA of the Rockies - Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado.   

To live in a yurt in the mountains.  

And you know what?  

We rather liked it.

Glamping

What's so great about it?  

With 8 kids ranging in age from 1 to 10 at the time, we thought glamping in a yurt would be a bit more comfortable experience with the little guys than straight tent-camping.  

Glamping, in a nutshell, is quasi-outdoor lodging for travelers looking for more comfy experiences in nature.  So with the yurt, if it rained (and it did!), we had a roof over our head.  

And I'm not gonna lie - I love sleeping in a legit bed.  

Each family reserved a yurt for the week at YMCA's Snow Mountain Ranch nestled between the towns of Fraser, Tabernash, and Granby, Colorado.  Discover affordable, clean yurts at Snow Mountain Ranch, with excellent grocery stores close-by in Fraser and Granby. 

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Each yurt comfortably sleeps 6 and an adjacent tent space is allowed to make room for 2 additional people.  We set up a tent for fun.

The spacious yurt holds one queen bed and two sets of bunk bedsm with plenty of extra floor space for luggage and moving around.  A mini fridge, microwave, and electricity turns the notch up to glamping. 

A cement pad lays right next to the yurt, complete with a grill and a sturdy picnic table.  

Bed linens and light blankets are provided in the summers-- but we were all glad we brought our sleeping bags along since it can get pretty chilly in the middle of the night.  The yurts are not heated, but we LOVE sleeping in cool, fresh, mountain air.

Our yurts sat just steps away from the bath house.  The bathhouse boasts clean, working toilets, hot showers, hair dryers, deep well sinks for dish washing, and a coin-operated laundry facility.  

YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch

Freebies and fun things to do

FREE swimming indoors, FREE roller skating, FREE mini-golf, and the FREE summer tubing hill are crowd pleasers.

We also rode bikes, learned archery, and painted and tie-dyed away a rainy afternoon at the Ranch's craft hut.  And horseback riding was a must for the girls one morning. 

Most of the staff at the Ranch in the summer are friendly college folks working in the mountains for the summer.

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Rocky Mountain National Park

RMNP's west entrance is very close to Snow Mountain Ranch, providing numerous hiking opportunities and sunset drives through the park for wildlife sightings.  

Also, Adams Falls near Grand Lake was one of our favorite family friendly hikes.

Download one or both of the following apps to help you pick hikes just right for your gang:  the Hiking Project and REI - National Parks Guide & Maps.  

Did you know there are four national parks in Colorado? This Southwest Colorado Road Trip hits the other three: Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

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Holzwarth Historic Site  

Fun and easy for all kids, the trailhead for this hike is 7.4 miles north of the Grand Lake entrance on the west side of the Rocky Mountain National Park.  Go back in time at Mama's Cabin and try your hand at all sorts of old-timey activities at this historic dude ranch formerly ran by the Holzwarth family under the name of Never Summer Ranch.  

Grand Lake

Following a hike nearby, we stopped in Grand Lake for an ice cream treat and a walk up and down main street.  This historic town boasts several restaurants, shops, live music, and more.  Plenty of places to find ice cream cones!  

Summer Adventure at Winter Park Resort

Winter Park had us at "adventure." 

One afternoon we took a break from hiking and exploring and took the quick jaunt over to Winter Park.  SO MUCH FUN. 

We raced each other down the hill on Colorado's longest alpine slide, bungee flipped on the trampoline, and zip lined.  We played all day!  

Check out the new 18-hole putting course, the Trestle Bike Park, scenic chairlift rides, mazes, and more.  Loads of thrills for all ages.

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Quick Yurt Tips

Lanterns and flashlights are a must, especially for those middle-of-the-night bathroom trips.  Check out these 7 items that could help you enjoy camping even more.

Bring bug spray, you'll be glad you did.

Sleeping bags or extra blankets will insure you stay toasty warm in the fresh, cool mountain air.  The yurts have linens, blankets, and towels provided, but we were glad we brought extra.

Be prepared to cook outside just like you are tent-camping.  

A shade canopy is ideal, as pine beetles destroyed many of the trees a few summers back.  Baby trees are springing up everywhere, but you'll be glad you planted your own shade for the times you cook and hangout together around the picnic table.   

Enjoy wildlife from a safe distance.  Know where your kids are.

Last but not least, Fodor's Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West will have additional great ideas for fun in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Happy Yurting! 

Have you stayed in a yurt before?  What was it like?  We'd love to hear all about it, so please share below!