Carter Military Trail Yurt
Carter Military Trail Yurt provides primitive lodging during summer and fall months, and during the winter, it is open to the public as a warming station for snowmobilers. It is located in the Ashley National Forest, at roughly 9,800 feet in elevation. It is approximately 25 air miles northwest of Vernal, Utah, and is situated near the historic Carter Military Trail and the Highline Trail. The yurt can be accessed by vehicle, from Vernal, Utah. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring their own amenities.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Accessibility | Site 001 is listed accessible |
The yurt is approximately 224 square-feet (less than 16 feet in diameter) and has limited amenities. Indoor plumbing, running water and electricity are not available. It can accommodate up to six people for overnight visits. Parking is available for a maximum of one RV/camp trailer and two vehicles. Tent camping is allowed outside the yurt. The yurt has one bunk bed with full size mattresses that will sleep two-four people. No linens, bedding or pillows are provided. The yurt is equipped with a heavy-duty propane case stove for cooking, a wood burning stove for heat and a folding table and chairs. A vault toilet is located outside. Guests must bring their own supplies and are asked to not leave any supplies after stay for public health reasons. Combination code required to enter yurt. (Some combination locks used have off-set entry lines.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Follow the mileage indications below and look for signs on the ground when traveling to the yurt. Leave with plenty of time to arrive at the yurt before dark. From Vernal, travel north on U.S. Highway 191 (Vernal Avenue) for approximately 20 miles. Turn west (left) on Forest Road 018.
| Nearest town | Vernal, Utah |
| Coordinates | 40.7908° N, 109.7600° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- If code is not working, try off-setting entry line).
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD1 Pondo Rx
13 mi from the campground · 532 acres
- PrescribedHole In The Rock Rx
23 mi from the campground · 85 acres
- PrescribedMiddle Beaver Rx
24 mi from the campground · 50 acres
- PrescribedWestern Roughneck Rx
33 mi from the campground · 472 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 15.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Redneck Archery and Pro Shop ↗ | 26.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Numerous scenic driving routes on maintained dirt roads crisscross the area, providing miles of trails for off-road vehicles enthusiasts, hikers and mountain bikers. Trails lead to Long Park, Oaks Park and East Park reservoirs, Hacking Lake, Red Lake and Lily Pad Lake, as well as overlooks, forests, meadows and historic sites. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is known not only for its beautiful red cliffs, but also for world-class fishing for lake, brown and rainbow trout. Boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities on the reservoir.
- 8.3 miPalisades Park Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 10.2 miSheep Creek Boat Launch Area ↗Boat launch
- 10.6 miEast Park Junction Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.2 miChepeta Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.3 miChepeta Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miOld Carter Military ↗6.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.1 miSouth Elk Park3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 2.5 miPat Carroll Park2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miNorth Elk Park ↗9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3 miTrout Creek Peak to Lost Park1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.2 miLeidy Peak - Lake Shore Basin2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Ashley National Forest.
- inAshley National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,401,248 acres
- 2.9 miUinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,912,954 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Ute Mountain Fire TowerStructure · Manila · 5.8 mi
Natural features
The yurt is situated on a scenic plateau, high in the Uinta Moutains of northeastern Utah. A mixed pine forest covers the area, offering limited shade. Wildlife and summer wildflowers are abundant. The Ashley-Karst National Geologic Recreation Area offers dramatic canyons, densely forested backcountry areas, and vast networks of caves. The Red Cloud Loop Scenic Backway is nearby, meandering through miles of aspen groves, open meadows and lodgepole pine forests. Petroglyphs and historic sites dot the area.
Recreation
The yurt provides access to numerous hiking, biking and off-road vehicle trails, including the Carter Military Trail and the Highline Trail. The Carter Military Trail served as a military supply road from the legendary Oregon Trail in southwestern Wyoming, over the Uinta Mountains and to the Uinta Basin. The route winds up and down hills, through marshes and disappears in some spots, but it remains a significant trail due to its historic and archaeological culture. Many lakes and reservoirs in the area are open to canoeing and fishing.
Guidebooks for Utah
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Carter Military Trail Yurt?
Sites at Carter Military Trail Yurt are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Carter Military Trail Yurt?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Carter Military Trail Yurt have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Carter Military Trail Yurt?
Yes, pets are allowed at Carter Military Trail Yurt. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Carter Military Trail Yurt?
Site 001 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Carter Military Trail Yurt?
The yurt provides access to numerous hiking, biking and off-road vehicle trails, including the Carter Military Trail and the Highline Trail. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Carter Military Trail Yurt?
Vernal, Utah. Numerous scenic driving routes on maintained dirt roads crisscross the area, providing miles of trails for off-road vehicles enthusiasts, hikers and mountain bikers.
Source: Getting there
What if Carter Military Trail Yurt is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are South Fork Camping Area (4 mi, first-come), Deep Creek Campground (4.7 mi, first-come), and Browne Lake Group Sites (5.6 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby