Crow’s Nest Yurt

Please note – there is only room for two vehicles at the new parking area. Consider the Richmond park and ride or the Huntington Library as carpooling options if you require more than two spaces. Access to Crow’s Nest yurt is from a parking area located on a nearby landowner’s property (parking is no longer at the CHNSA parking lot). It is not possible to drive to Crow’s Nest yurt. You must use your own human power to reach the yurt. From the new parking area to the yurt there is a net gain of approximately 450′ elevation and a total distance of 1.34 miles. Your booking confirmation email will include a link to the parking location and a trail map with clear directions to hike, ski, or bike to the yurt from the designated parking area.

Skiing or splitboarding is your best mode of transportation to the yurt in winter months. Snowshoeing is only permitted on the sides of the groomed trails. No hiking or post-holing during winter months. If you don’t have skis, a splitboard, or snowshoes, please borrow gear from a friend or consider renting from your local shop. 

If arriving at the hut via the Catamount Trail as part of a longer backcountry tour, the GPS coordinates of the yurt will be included in your confirmation email.

Summer:

Crow’s Nest yurt is in the heart of some of the best mountain biking in the northeastern USA. Exhilarating and technical single track, flowy machine built, and mellow beginner trails can all be accessed within a short drive (or pedal!). Carse Hills, Sleepy Hollow, Cochran’s/Richmond Mountain Trails, and Hinesburg Town Forest are all within a 10 – 15 minute drive. Perry Hill (Waterbury, VT) and Saxon Hill (Essex, VT) are about 30 minutes away, and Stowe’s trails are about a 50 minute drive. You can find trail info and conditions at https://vmba.org/

If downhill mountain biking is your thing, Killington’s bike park is great and is a 90 minute drive. https://www.killington.com/the-mountain/trail-area-maps/bike-park-trail-guide

The Camel’s Hump hiking trailheads (Burrows Trail and Forest City Trail) are about a 10 minute drive. Info on Camel’s Hump can be found here: https://vtstateparks.com/camelshump.html 

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/vermont/camels-hump-state-park?ref=header

Winter:

The Crow’s Nest yurt is located in the heart of the Camel’s Hump Nordic Ski Area trails and is approximately 200′ from the Catamount Trail, Vermont’s 300-mile long ski trail running from Canada to Massachusetts. Once on the Catamount Trail, you can head north or south to explore the surrounding area. If heading south, consider making it a true hut to hut experience by spending an evening at our nearby Triple Creek Cabin.

The yurt is located in Section 20 of the Catamount Trail. You can learn more about this section and view its map here, or you can visit the interactive map on the Catamount Trail Association’s website here.

Absolutely NO SMOKING in the yurt.

No outside shoes/boots/ski/board boots in the hut. Bring slippers – they’re way cozier 🙂

Check-in/out Times: Check-in anytime after 2:00 pm on your arrival date. Check-out no later than 12:00 pm on your departure date.

Overview: The Crow’s Nest yurt is located within the Camel’s Hump Nordic Ski Area (CHNSA) trail network and is adjacent to the Catamount Trail in Huntington, VT. You may access the yurt via the Catamount Trail or from the private parking area (location provided upon booking). The yurt is approximately one mile from the parking area. The yurt is neighbored by the Dark Star cabin, approximately 500′ away.

Parking: Overnight parking for yurt guests is located on private land shared with guests of Crow’s Nest yurt. Specific directions with parking location will be emailed upon booking (two cars max). There is no yurt parking at the main CHNSA lot.

Directions to yurt: You will be emailed specific directions to the yurt after booking your reservation, including GPS coordinates for those approaching via the Catamount Trail as part of a longer tour.

Heat: The yurt is heated with a wood stove, and instructions are provided in the hut user manual. You should be comfortable operating a wood stove if you are reserving the Crow’s Nest Yurt. Guests are responsible for making their own fires, and the yurt will likely not be warm when you arrive. The rate at which the yurt heats up depends on the temperature outside, but the yurt will usually heat to above 65 degrees in a couple hours. There is wood located inside the yurt next to the wood stove. Guests are expected to restock the wood that they use. When restocking, use the wood pile located on the right side of the yurt as you’re looking at the yurt’s entry door. The other wood piles are not seasoned. Failure to restock wood will result in poor karma and potentially being banned from Crow’s Nest and other Vermont Huts.

Lights: There are solar-powered lights provided in the yurt, but snow coverage may impact their functionality. Please bring a headlamp or battery-powered lantern for your lighting needs as a backup. No gas-powered lanterns or open flames of any kind in the yurt.

Water source: There is a slow-running stream to the east of the yurt toward the Catamount Trail. It is marked with a sign on a tree, and there is a small PVC pipe extending out from the snow to make it easier to fill your containers. There are buckets in the hut that you can use to fill any number of the pots with water. Always be sure to filter, treat, or boil water before consuming. In the event that the stream is not running, you may use snow melt to create water using the large stock pot on top of the wood stove.

Cooking:There is a propane cooktop in the kitchen area for your convenience, and the kitchen has pots, pans, dishes, plates, bowls, utensils, knives, etc… for six guests. Simply bring your own food. Do not use the wood stove as a cooking surface, but you can heat water in the large pot on the stove for consumption and dish washing.

Lighting the cook top burners: The cooktop runs on propane so you will first need to make sure the propane valve – located directly above the cooktop – is turned on. When in the “ON” position, the blue valve will be parallel with the floor. The cooktop has an auto ignite feature so you do not need matches. Simply turn the knob furthest to the right slightly until you hear a clicking noise. This will create a spark and the burner will ignite! After ignition, you can adjust the knob to your desired flame intensity. The other burners operate the same way. Be sure to return all knobs to the “OFF” position when you are finished cooking.

Cleaning dishes: There are wash bins in the kitchen. There are sponges and dish soap for your convenience. Use stream water or snow to fill the bins. You can heat water in the camp pot on the woodstove. One bin is for soapy water, the other for rinsing. There is a drying rack to place the dishes so they can dry.

Grey water: Grey water from doing dishes, brushing teeth, or cooking should be dispersed outside where the “Pee and grey water” sign is (reference map in hut). Do not dispose of grey water in or near the streams. Please filter all grey water so no food ends up on the ground. Pack out all food scraps.

Outhouse: There is toilet paper in the outhouse for doing your business. Guests are asked to urinate outside the hut in the designated pee and grey water site (see map in yurt). We really don’t want to fill up the outhouse with pee! Number two business should always occur in the outhouse. Be sure to add the provided sawdust or woodchips and close the lid of the toilet when you’re finished.

Sauna: There is a wood-fired sauna a short distance from Dark Star (Crow’s Nest). It is shared between guests of Dark Star and Crow’s Nest Yurt.

Trash: Pack out all trash. Please make sure there are no food scraps in any of the grey water you dump out. Use screens provided. This is a leave no trace hut.

Sleeping: The yurt sleeps six guests. There are two double mattresses provided, plus a folding futon. There is no need to bring a camping pad, though you should bring your sleeping bag or blanket(s). There are pillows provided, though we recommend bringing a pillowcase or cover if you wish to use them.

Phone: There is no phone on site, and cell coverage is spotty to non-existent.

Pets: Guests may bring their well-behaved dog to the Crow’s Nest Yurt. We of course expect that dog poop is picked up and poop bags are packed out (not thrown in privy!). Guests must be extra thorough with the vacuuming and cleaning of dog hair. Note that not all CHNSA trails are open to canines. If you intend to ski the trails with your dog, you should check the CHNSA website. CHNSA has a Dog Loop that includes Skunk Brook, Dead River Run, right to Windekind Meadow, or left on Big Baldy, to Bear Scat Draw and back to the parking lot on Bert White Road. The route to/from the yurt is also dog-friendly. Please limit your dog exercising to those trails (see dog signage on trails and map).

In case of emergency: In the event of an emergency, guests should locate cell reception and dial 911. The state of Vermont has dispatch systems in place to coordinate a rescue effort if needed.

Departure: Please sweep up after yourselves using the broom and dust pan. Be sure the propane cooktop burners and gas line are all turned OFF, and that the kitchen area is clean. Replete the wood in the yurt with dry wood for the next guests. Pack out all trash and personal belongings. Do not leave any food behind – it will attract mice and other animals. When leaving, be sure all doors and windows are latched.

Landowners: The landowners do a regular check on the yurt to ensure an awesome stay for guests. You may see them and should feel free to introduce yourselves. Please report any issues requiring maintenance to the caretaker by making a note in the log book or emailing info@vermonthuts.org so we can address them.

Cancellations: Reservations canceled 15 days or more in advance will receive a 50% refund. Reservations canceled 14 days or less in advance are non-refundable.

*Failure to comply with these policies may result in additional charges to your reservation.

Should you have any questions about your stay, please contact the Vermont Huts Association office at 802-798-3003 or info@vermonthuts.org.