Idaho City Yurts

About

The Idaho City Backcountry Yurt Program offers seven unique yurts (Petersen, Banner Ridge, Elkhorn, Skyline, Hennessy, Rocky Ridge, and Stargaze) on US Forest Service land in the Boise National Forest. Each yurt provides a comfortable, self-guided backcountry experience with no park employees on-site. Standard amenities include a futon, two bunk beds sleeping up to six guests, solar-powered lighting, a propane cook stove with basic kitchen supplies, a wood stove with provided firewood, and a nearby well-maintained vault toilet. The yurts feature dining tables with chairs, outdoor fire pits, and picnic tables. Guests must bring their own drinking water as no potable water is available. Summer provides non-potable water tanks for cleaning only. A high-clearance, all-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for accessing the trailhead parking areas. Access varies by season: summer visitors enjoy a short hike of a few hundred yards, while winter access requires a 1-3 mile ski or snowshoe trek. From November 15 through April 30, a Park N' Ski pass is required for parking at Whoop Um Up, Gold Fork, Banner Ridge, or Beaver Creek lots.

Directions

Located 56-63 miles north of Boise via Highway 21. A high-clearance, all-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Summer access requires a short hike from parking areas; winter access requires a 1-3 mile ski or snowshoe trek from designated Park N' Ski lots.