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Meadow Haven Yurt offers a clean, eclectic, rustic and open-concept space designed for 2-3 guests. This south-facing, woodsy retreat comes equipped with a wood pellet fireplace, propane BBQ, wood fired grill / fire pit, a queen bed, indoor composting toilet, and an outdoor, solar-heated shower. Guests looking for together time can walk the on-site labyrinth and spend time stargazing, or bring bikes and take a ride out the gate to a popular cycling loop and explore scenic Grand Valley Road. In winter, bring snowshoes, skates or cross-country skis. 

From the yurt, you are just a short 15-minute drive to the pretty, little, 'How the West is Now' town of Cochrane, Alberta. Here you'll find anything you might need: groceries, AGLC, cafes, coffeeshops, restaurants, pubs, Saturday farmers' markets, galleries, movie theatre, the reportedly haunted Rockyview Hotel, concerts, and rodeos. 

Looking for a day trip? Visit Bankhead in Banff National Park, a winding 1+ hour drive to an early 1900's mining ghost town located near Cascade Mountain. There is an informative self-guided interpretive walk. 

Whether you're artists, writers or nature lovers seeking a unique, meditative retreat and photo ops, or adventurers who are happy to hike or cycle for hours, you can find what you are seeking here. Acres of a wild, boreal forest wonderland is at your disposal, grab a complimentary walking stick and you can explore at your leisure.

Onsite in summer, you can spend some meditative moments walking the seasonal Baltic-style labyrinth in the meadow in front of the yurt, or in winter, snowshoe/cross-country ski from the front door. In warm weather, bring your bikes for a wonderful ride on the smooth roads of the popular cycling loops just outside the gate, or your fishing poles and hiking boots and head offsite to the many nearby local fishing holes or trails. Explore the gentle game trails at the nearby Perrenoud Wildlife Habitat Area, or visit either Ghost Lake or Winchell Lake, a scenic 15-minute drive away. 

In winter, bring snowshoes or cross-country skis. Explore the joys of the season. When you book your yurt adventure, you can spend hours just hanging around the yurt playing cards. You’re probably not going to get through too many games of crib outside in the evenings though, even with your warmest toque pulled down low. The air at this elevation, close to the same elevation as Banff, can get a touch chilly at night. Instead, you’re going to want to cuddle up next to the pellet stove fireplace in the yurt with a warm mug of hot cocoa and play a few of the complementary board games.

Our yurt is set in our own private forest, which backs onto 360 acres of forested leased Crown Land. While the yurt is in a forested, country location, you may hear or encounter your hosts on the property's trails. The Yurt is in a wilderness horse ranch environment. Guests are responsible for their own safety and are expected to have basic wilderness skills along with an appreciation of nature and a general sense of comfort in being alone in nature.

Located just 35 minutes from Calgary, a scenic one-hour drive from the Banff National Park east gate. We are 1.5 hours from Red Deer and 3 hours from Edmonton or Lethbridge. The exact location and driving directions are provided with a confirmed booking.

Meadow Haven Yurt is 686 sq. ft. of peace-filled living space with so many extra special touches, from a queen-size Tempur-pedic bed draped in comfy bed linens, artistically arranged quality furnishings, and a welcoming, comfortable rustic ambience. A cot with a sleeping bag and pillow is available for up to a child. This would be most comfortable for those between 6 - 16 years of age.

There are outdoor kitchen facilities if you choose to pack in your food, a small selection of cookware, a propane grill, and a bistro table with chairs available for your use, with the addition of a wood-fired grill/fire pit in winter. There is also a bar-height, wood-fired raclette table with stools for an adventure in outdoor cooking. Yum, cheesy goodness melting in the cast iron pan while your meat and veg sizzle on the grill.

Or, you may choose to stop in at the "How the West is Now" town of Cochrane, a scenic 15 minutes to the south, and sample the many unique coffee shops and restaurants. Make sure to check out MacKay's Ice Cream, a local favourite located on Main Street.

Even though Meadow Haven Yurt is completely OFF-GRID, don't let this scare you. Here, being off-grid doesn't mean you must search for an outhouse in the dark. You will find a waterless, odourless composting toilet and dressing room ensuite. In addition, you'll find a wood pellet heater/fireplace, solar-powered lights, and a round Oculus-style skylight. For those with medical equipment like CPAP machines, access to on-grid power may be arranged.  

Additional Power Service Available, if required: (please request 24 hours prior to your check-in):

$5 extra for On-grid power.  

Included (Free): Firewood for cooking and fire pit (fire bans permitting), wood pellets for indoor fireplace heating and propane for the small bbq.

• Onsite Parking Space & Walk-In Boardwalk Access 
• Fully Insulated / Heated via wood pellet fireplace (wood pellets provided)
• Ensuite composting toilet, wash basin, bottled wash water, soaps, sanitizer and dry shampoo
• Outdoor solar-heated shower (Spring Melt - First Frost) 
• Pots, pans, dishes and cooking essentials
• French coffee press and kettle for heating water on the firepit

            Outdoor covered cooking space with: 

• Propane BBQ (propane provided, Spring Melt - First Frost)
• Wood-fired grill/fire pit (Winter only - fire starter, kindling, firewood provided)
• Bistro table & chairs 
• Two 4-litre bottles of drinking water provided

• Onsite game trails & seasonal labyrinth when not under snow
• Board games and cards 
• Self-directed, nature immersion experience instructions provided
• First aid kit, fire alarm, CO2 detector, fire extinguisher

Additional Services:

Onsite Nature Experiences ($35 - $325)

Artisan gallery and store ($35 - $$$)

On-grid power ($5/day)

NOTE: No running water means NO shower in winter. The composting toilet is fully functional year-round. Bottled wash water, soaps, dry shampoo, wet towelettes and a basin are provided; think glamping or lux pioneer!

Winter Camping: Winter weather can be challenging. Guests must be comfortable and equipped and acknowledge the inherent risks of staying in a winter foothill country environment.

Be aware there is no cooking or food allowed in the yurt. All meals must be prepared and eaten outdoors as lingering food odours in the canvas walls can draw in predators. Your food and food waste must be securely stored in your vehicle. Pack out what you pack in—quiet time is from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Please review the complete yurt and ranch rules before you book. Click Rules & Regs for the complete list.

Wear layers! There's a saying in the foothill country... if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. So be prepared to add and subtract clothing frequently. That is unless you're sitting around the campfire, singing your favourite out-in-the-woods campfire song. Then you want to bring something thick to sit on and wear an outer layer of fire-resistant wool—an oversized sweater, a coat or a wool camp blanket—to ensure the wood and the singalong are the only things catching fire. 

• Personal gear: clothing, accessories, toiletries and slippers or indoor shoes
• Personal safety items: whistle, sunscreen, aloe gel, tweezers, and bug repellant
• Hand sanitizer & cleaning wipes
• Food and drinks, etc.
• Flashlight, lantern or headlamp
• Food cooler - Your cooler is not wildlife-proof, so be sure to store it correctly in your vehicle at night or anytime you are not at your campsite.
• Look for biodegradable soaps. Remember - even biodegradable products must be disposed of in the designated grey water tank, not on the ground.

This is a unique and authentic, unplugged, off-grid yurt adventure. You will have NO WIFI access or TV. For emergencies, there is reliable cell reception for Telus and Bell customers. Service for Rogers customers is unpredictable. You will find peace and tranquillity are available in large quantities! 

The yurt is yours to stay in, and the Ranch is yours to walk around and explore; check Yurt & Ranch rules for any off-limit areas. By self-entry access code, check-in is from 3:00 - 5:00 pm, and departure time is by 11:00 am.

Your host and her husband live at the ranch house and can be available to answer questions via Airbnb Messenger if necessary. We work with the horses and around the barn. If you want to meet us, that's great; if not, we won't be offended. Just enjoy your time in Meadow Haven Yurt.

As an off-grid, solar-powered yurt, energy conservation is critical. Ensure lights are off when not in use or when you leave, or are outside of the yurt. Drawing too much power may cause you to lose the function of the lights or pellet stove fireplace, so be mindful of your consumption. There is a backup generator if needed. (It hasn't been used so far!!) Limited on-grid power access may be arranged.

Additional Power Service Available, if required: 

$5/day - Access to on-grid power 

All garbage and recycling must be packed and taken home on departure. Pack out what you pack in.