Interested in checking out one or more of Utah's yurts? Here are some of the possibilities:The Uintas/Kamas. A winter-season three-yurt system east of Kamas along U-150 has been organized by the U.S. Forest Service, The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA), Exum Utah Mountain Adventures and the Norwegian School of Nature Life.

One yurt is about 4 miles off the Mirror Lake Highway on the North Fork of the Provo River. The elevation gain is moderate -- about 240 feet. Two others are situated along the Upper Setting trail. The first, called Timp View, is about two miles from the road, with a 900-foot elevation climb. The second, the Castle Peak yurt, is about 6 1/2 miles in and involves about a 2,500-foot climb.

"Timp View is strategically placed close enough that families and youth groups can usually access it very easily," said Craig Merry, the Norwegian School's director of operations. Achieving the trail's second yurt is more of a workout, he said.

The system's yurts, though varying from 16 to 20 feet in diameter, each have bunks for eight people. Lanterns, stoves, wood and kitchenware are provided. Visitors must be guided or have to attend a day-trip orientation to use the yurts, which are open from first major snowfall through April, "as long as there's snow," Merry said. This season's weekends are pretty much booked, but many weeknights are still available.

Rental for the two lower yurts, the North Fork and Timp View, is $65 on weekdays and $80 on weekends, regardless of how many use it. The Castle Peak yurt is $105 on weekdays, $120 on weekends.

For more information or reservations, call the Norwegian School of Nature Life in Park City, 1-800-649-5322.

The Uintas/Lily Lake. The Lily Lake Cross-Country Ski Area, 30 miles south of Evanston, Wyo., offers two rental yurts along its system of back-country trails, said Brad Hatch of the Evanston Parks and Recreation District. In addition, two other yurts are available just outside the ski area, accessible to snowmobilers as well as skiers. The closest of the four is 1 3/4 miles from the trailhead, the farthest 4 1/2 miles away, with a 1,000-foot elevation gain.

In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies, the Wyoming recreation district and the Bear River Outdoor Recreation Alliance manage the yurts, although they are on the Utah side of the state line, on the North Slope of the Uintas off U-150.

The alliance offers orientation day tours of the ski area and the yurts throughout the winter.

Overnight visitors must bring personal gear, including sleeping bags, as well as food. The yurts have bunkbeds, tables and benches, Coleman stoves and lanterns and basic cooking supplies and utensils, Hatch said.

Rental prices for the yurts -- which are available year-round -- are $35 per yurt on Friday and Saturday nights and $25 Sunday through Thursday. One person in the party must be a member of the Bear River Outdoor Recreation Alliance. For information or reservations, call the recreation district at 303-789-1770, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The Uintas/Ashley National Forest. Two yurts are available in the Uinta Mountains about 24 miles north of Vernal off U.S. 191, said Reta Campbell of the Ashley National Forest's Vernal District offices. One, on Grizzly Ridge, has been in place since 1994. The other, Limber Flag, was built on Diamond Mountain just this past year.

"They are very popular on weekends -- especially when we have snow," which has been occasionally scarce this season, Campbell said.

The yurts have propane stoves and lanterns, bunk beds with mattresses, drawers and kitchen and cleaning supplies. Sleeping bags and other equipment must be packed in.

Both are about 3 miles from their respective trailheads. They lodge eight to 10 people (the latter with two on the floor). Rentals are $25 a night, seven days a week, for use year round by skiers, hikers and mountain bikers, Campbell said. Call 1-435-789-1181 for information or reservations.

Moab/The LaSals. Tag-A-Long Expeditions, a Moab-based tour company, rents yurts in the LaSal Mountains, near Geyser Pass off the LaSal Mountain Loop and near the Dark Canyon trailhead northeast of LaSal off U-46, said marketing director Sandy Barr.

Gear is shuttled in on Snow Cats to lighten the loads for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. "Some people just came back after three days," for multiple-night stays are possible when food supplies are "trucked" in, she said.

The yurts sleep eight, though groups can be smaller. The cost is $30 per night per person; additional fees may apply. Visitors must bring their own sleeping bags or can rent them. The yurts include bunks with pads, tables and chairs, gas lights, a kitchen area, a stove and cooking equipment and utensils.

For more information, call Tag-A-Long Expeditions toll-free at 1-800-453-3292.

Logan Canyon/Franklin Basin. Cache Valley's Powder Ridge Ski Touring operates two yurts in the Bear River Range above Logan Canyon, each 3 to 4 miles up separate trails, said owner Stuart Reynolds.

"They've been there 14, 15 years," Reynolds said.

The two 16-foot-diameter yurts are rented from December through April and sleep six. Fees are $138 on weekend nights, $120 on weekdays, with discounts early and late in the season. Guide fees are extra. Mapping skills or GPS equipment helps those going in on their own, he said. Call 435-752-7853.

Logan Canyon/Blind Hollow. Utah State University's Blind Hollow yurt, in Logan Canyon, can be rented by those with USU IDs -- basically students, faculty and staff -- but it is pretty much booked through this season, said Kevin Kobe, director of the school's Outdoor Recreation Center.

The specially designed yurt, about four miles up the trail, can house eight people, features solar heating and has the typical stove and bunks.

To inquire about availability and prices, call the Outdoor Recreation Center at 1-435-797-3264.

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Solitude. The yurt at Solitude is not an overnight lodging but a restaurant, and reservations have been booked for the rest of the season.

Otherwise, according to a resort recording, the back-country eatery is open seven nights a week, with a single seating of 20 diners at 5:45 p.m. The cost is $60 per person during November, rising to $65 Dec. 1-April 18, Monday through Thursday, and $70 per person Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

The payment -- due 30 days in advance -- includes cross-country skis or snowshoes, guide fees and the gourmet dinner.

Call 534-1400, extension 5709.

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