Evergreen Yurt Near Denali National Park

This yurt is the perfect basecamp for all your Denali adventures. Please be aware this is a semi-rustic lodging experience blending casual comforts and an authentic Alaskan experience. Don’t you want to say you’ve used an outhouse? The yurt is 15 miles from the entrance of Denali National Park (about 20 minutes). Healy is the “town” north of the park, so there are services, but no public transportation to get around. The space This yurt is located on 1 acre of private property off the main road, surrounded by the forest and views the north side of the Alaska Range. Moose, snowshoe hare and lynx frequent the property, but we haven’t seen any bear in the neighborhood. Newly built in 2019, the yurt comes from Freedom Yurt Company. It has wooden insulated walls and receives plenty of sunlight (in the summer). Four large windows frame 360-degree views of the boreal forest. You have control of the Toyo oil stove to take the chill off in the evenings. The 300-square feet of round space has an open floor plan, with one queen bed, a fold-out couch and a full kitchen setup with an island eating area. The queen memory foam mattress on the bed will have all the necessary linens. We provide extra pillows, bed linens and towels as well. The yurt is best suited for 2 people, although there is a pull-out couch that can accommodate 1 more adult (or children). Families with children are welcome, but the yurt is not child proof. The kitchen appliances are brand-new and include a full-size fridge/freezer, 4-burner propane stove/oven, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, crockpot and a propane grill (outside). All pots, pans, plates, utensils, and cups are provided, so you have everything you need to prepare and enjoy meals. The yurt will be stocked with basics, such as bear spray, bug repellent, hand sanitizer, dish soap, trash bags, toilet paper and paper towels. Food items will vary, but often include a selection of coffee (and filters), tea, spices, condiments, oatmeal, coffee creamer and hot chocolate. There is excellent cell phone service, Starlink WiFi and a SmartTV, so you can log in to any streaming services in which you subscribe. However, you can simply unplug in the spacious yurt reading a book by the large window, playing a game, doing a puzzle or sit outside and enjoy nature by the fire pit under the midnight sun. The yurt is smoke-free and pet-free. Sorry we do not accept pets, although service animals are permitted (please disclose if you are bringing one). If you choose to smoke or vape, we request you do it outside and be responsible. Guest access The yurt is 109 miles south of Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) and 254 miles north of Ted Stevens Anchorage Airport (ANC) in the town of Healy. Healy is the “town” 15 miles north of Denali National Park, so there are a few restaurants, gas stations, a grocery store and a post office. There is no public transportation to the park or around Healy, so guests need a vehicle to easily explore the area. The yurt is 2 miles off the main highway (Mile Marker 247 on the Parks Highway) in a private neighborhood via paved and maintained gravel roads accessible by any 2WD cars. It is walking distance to a few Healy attractions. The yurt is easy to find, and we will provide very descriptive instructions during the week prior to your arrival. You’ll also receive a door code for easy access. Parking is just steps away from the front door of the yurt. There are 2 stairs to get into the yurt, so it is not handicap accessible. We live only 1/4 mile away from the yurt, so are readily available for guest needs! Other things to note Area Information: We encourage you to do grocery shopping in Anchorage or Fairbanks, as it is easiest on the wallet. Although Three Bears in Healy is fully stocked! Besides a grocery store, Healy also has plenty of amenities, including seasonal restaurants, gas stations and a post office. The yurt is a beautiful 1-mile easy walk to Otto Lake, where you can enjoy a picnic. Across the street from the lake is Black Diamond Restaurant and Golf Course, which offers tours, golfing and food. Other restaurants within a short drive in Healy include 49th State Brewing Company (lunch & dinner - reservations recommended), Rose’s Cafe (breakfast & lunch) and Alaska Coffee Bean (breakfast & lunch - open year round). The coffee shop generally has a farmer’s market every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There are tons of other restaurants closer to Denali National Park (reservations recommended). Feel free to ask us for guidance, and we definitely have our favorites if you want suggestions! Shower and laundry facilities are available at Vitus Gas Station in Healy on the Parks Highway, just a few miles from the yurt. Again, we provide towels. The yurt is in a private, residential neighborhood. There are other yurts on the same road, but only this one is a rental. Please respect our neighbors! Hiking is endless. We recommend all the hikes in Denali National Park, but if you need help planning out excursions, we’re happy to give advice. Justin is also a professional hiking guide in the area. Besides hiking, there are tons of outdoor adventures in the area, such as rafting on the Nenana River, visiting sled dogs, flight seeing tours, ATV rentals, zip lining, horseback riding, horse-drawn carriage rides, jeep excursions, private guided hiking trips, and more. Let us know if you need any suggestions for things to book in advance. Important Things to Note: *The yurt has power, but it is dry, meaning there is no conventional plumbing—no indoor toilet or shower. *There is an outhouse right outside the cabin for bathroom needs. *Purified water is provided for drinking, hand washing, dish washing and cooking. There will be detailed instructions about the water system at the yurt. *Showers and laundry are located at Vitus Gas Station (just a few miles from the yurt) or Riley Creek Campground in the National Park, and we provide towels to take there. *Our summers are full of the infamous “midnight sun.” Depending on how close you visit to Summer Solstice (June), the sun will only set for a few hours between 1am until 4am. We have blackout curtains on all the windows, but the yurt has a glass dome. We provide eye masks for sleeping. *On the other hand, there is a chance of seeing Northern Lights in late August and September. We do see auroras from the yurt, it just needs to be dark and clear for them to be visible to the naked eye. *There is an overnight accommodation tax for Denali Borough. The nightly rate adds this 7.5% tax, and we pay it to the local government. *We try to live as sustainably and environmentally-conscious as we can, so we appreciate when guests can do the same. For example, recycling in the area is not the easiest in the area, but there are a few items we can take to recycle (aluminum cans, plastic bottles). So no pressure, but recycle when you can! We also provide reusable bags to borrow for any shopping you do while in the area. *The water is drinkable in the area, and the park has many water-refilling stations, so please consider traveling with your reusable bottle (and even your reusable coffee cup—most businesses give a discount when you bring your own! About the Hosts: We are Patrice & Justin! This is the first time we are operating this space, although we’ve managed short-term rental properties for other people over the years in Oregon, New Mexico, Maine, Virginia and Alaska. We lived a nomadic life for years, but made Alaska our full-time home in 2019. We started renting out the yurt in 2022. We live year-round in Healy and love all outdoor activities (summer and winter). If you need any suggestions, we would love to help!