Camp in comfort & privacy on an off-grid property powered by solar energy and enjoy exclusive use of 50 acres of peaceful woodlands with 4km of nature trails and special features like a SoundForest and meditative walking labyrinth. It’s like having your own private park! There’s even an option ($) to have breakfast brought out. This is a unique place & space; read the detailed listing/photos/captions and scroll back through descriptive reviews to help determine if it's right for you.

The space
NOTE: May-thru-October there are 2 active listings (cabin and yurt) on this property. However, THEY ARE NEVER BOOKED CONCURRENTLY. As soon as a reservation on one is confirmed, those dates are blocked on the other, assuring you will be the only guests using the property, its features and amenities. (Both cabin & yurt may be booked by the SAME guest group – contact host to arrange.)

To accommodate families it may be possible to extend the max Yurt occupancy to 6 persons under certain circumstances. Please confirm with host before booking.

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"Large, bright, airy, offbeat," are some of the ways guests describe the yurt. It is super-private, down a forest path about 150m east of the host’s house & parking area. (A cart is available to move your gear.) The experience combines the best parts of camping while avoiding those you dislike (like neighbouring campers or struggling to put up a tent) and even includes unlimited campfire wood.

YURT AMBIENCE: Yurts, which have their roots in nomadic Mongolia, are round tents sturdy enough for extended deployment and braving the elements but still able to be packed up and moved. This particular yurt, manufactured in Ontario, with a 17′ diameter 6' walls and 10' peak, easily accommodates up to 5 people sleeping with space to spare for hanging out. The outside skin is waterproof breathable fabric and the inside walls are lined with cozy wool felt. The floor is off the ground and made of local maple.

The beauty of any tent, including this yurt, is how it allows you to feel immersed in the natural environment. Fabric walls let through the sounds of the forest and you can hear the ocean-like breeze travelling through pine trees. Five giant windows (screened, with flaps that may be opened or closed) connect your sight and senses to the forest which surrounds the yurt. A large transparent dome in the ceiling can be opened for ventilation and allows sky-gazing day or night!

CAMPING AMENITIES: The yurt is just steps away from a secluded open-sky area with fire pit and picnic tables. You will also find a small work table sheltered by a tarp in case you need somewhere to cook or prepare food if it is raining.

Water for drinking and washing is provided at the camp area and may be refilled anytime at the house. There is no electricity at the camp area but there is a charging station accessible 24/7 at the house. Ice is available for free, though quantities may be limited. Firewood is free, and unlimited.

An outhouse, opposite the yurt, is not an old-style pit privy but instead contains a modern flush-action portable toilet. Featuring aromatic cedar panelling and a window to the forest, you may stay in their longer than you expect ;-)

This sustainable rural homestead is completely off-grid, with no utility connections to the “outside world”. Electricity is generated on-site from solar energy and some clever modern electronics. A sealed well drilled almost 300’ into the bedrock supplies clean, fresh water from an aquifer. And a modern septic system responsibly processes waste water. Heat comes from carbon-neutral firewood all harvested on the property. If you’re interested in how home-based renewable energy works, feel welcome to ask the host for walk-thru of the system!

Guest access
In addition to the accommodation, part of the value in your stay is exclusive use of 50 acres of woodlands with 4km of marked trails looping through varied types of forest, each with its own character: mystical cedars, feathery larches, towering red pines, fragrant spruces, sugar maple hardwood bush, and white pines that whisper to you in the breeze. You basically have your own private nature park. You will get a printed trail map and guide to the forest areas.

You will also find special features like a magical SoundForest of suspended wind chimes and a meditative walking labyrinth winding its way through the trees. And on a clear night don’t be surprised to find yourself awestruck as the dark country sky treats you to a stargazing extravaganza.

In addition to the features in and around your accommodation, guests have access to the following amenities on the property:
+ relax and clear your pores in the wood-fired sauna (book a time, or just let host know a couple hours ahead to get it warming)
+ refresh yourself in the outdoor shower (ambient temp, not heated) anytime
+ use the campfire pit, with unlimited firewood provided

The host’s house, built around a circa-1850 pioneer log home, is located more-or-less in the centre of this 50 acre woodland property. The cabin is about 100m west of the house, and the yurt about 150m east of it, both sequestered in the forest, out of sight and private. NOTE: to assure a private experience, cabin and yurt and not rented concurrently except to the same guest group.

Other things to note
CLEANING PROTOCOL - While I follow Airbnb’s cleaning procedures to the extent reasonably possible, be advised this is unique accommodation and many of the interior surfaces (e.g., wood, felt, fabric) are natural, unfinished or porous, and cannot be sanitized/disinfected with solutions or sprays. In lieu of this, as an added guest safety measure, I manage the booking calendar to ensure a buffer of at least one day between guest occupancies of the yurt. In other words, you will never be checking-in on the same day a guest has checked-out; there is always at least 24 hours in between. In addition, my cleaning protocol includes opening windows for at least one hour to cross-ventilate the space.

CAMPING EQUIPMENT – The yurt is a very refined tent but nevertheless this is camping so keep in mind you need to bring necessary gear for sleeping, washing, cooking, etc… a list with packing suggestions is provided to booked guests. Two air mattresses (singles) are available by request.

BREAKFAST ($25 single, $35 couple) – Have a delightful and relaxed start to the day by treating yourself to brekkie-in-a-basket brought to the yurt at a time of your choosing. Breakfast is wholesome and homemade and always includes organic home baking and as much locally-sourced product as possible. Plus, of course, superb locally-roasted coffee (or black/green/herbal tea). Sorry, only available for one or two guests, not for groups.

MAKE YOUR STAY A RETREAT - Services provided on-site by SoulTrail ($) include guided forest therapy walk, better breathing instruction, or treat yourself to a private yoga class, custom-developed based on your experience level and preferences.

INTERNET – There is no WiFi at the yurt/camp area. There is phone reception, though the strength seems to vary depending on your device and your carrier. In any case, perhaps consider treating yourself to some digital detox during your stay at Off Grid Retreat ;-)

COUNTRY LIVING: Being situated in a rural area, at certain times of year you may occasionally hear (or, ah, smell) agricultural activities in the neighbouring vicinity. Similarly, the trade-off for living surrounded by the good vibes and plentiful oxygen from tens of thousands of trees is inconveniences like bugs… welcome to country life! I generally know the times of year these are most impactful but nothing can be guaranteed. If it is a concern, please inquire before booking.