Yurts

Crossing cultural boundaries and more than 3,000 years of history, the yurt is a traditional dwelling used by nomads on the steppes of central Asia. Yurts were originally built from wood or bamboo lattice and covered with animal hides or wool. The yurt was an efficient and portable home.

Virginia State Park yurts are modern versions of the traditional structures. They bridge the gap between tent camping and staying in a full-service cabin. (The yurts, except one at Kiptopeke, have no electricity.) So if you want to rough it, just not too much, check out a state park yurt.

Available at

• Chippokes (CP), three yurts
• Claytor Lake (CL), four yurts
• Fairy Stone (FS), four yurts
• First Landing (FL), four yurts
• Grayson Highlands (GH), four yurts
• Hungry Mother (HM), three yurts
• Kiptopeke (KP), three yurts plus one deluxe yurt with electricity and climate control
• Lake Anna (LA), four yurts
• Machicomoco (MA), three yurts
• Natural Tunnel (NT), four yurts
• Occoneechee (OC), three yurts
• Pocahontas (PO), four yurts
• Powhatan (PW), three yurts
• Shenandoah River (SH), three yurts

Above, parks with yurts.

Typical yurt

Interior of yurts