Best Glamping near Pisgah National Forest, NC

This is a great campground next to the beautiful North Mills River. Hosts were very accommodating and delivered ice and firewood for a cheap price upon request. It rained quite heavily during our stay and the hosts made the rounds to make sure we were all right and if we needed anything. There is a walkway on the far end of the site that leads to the North Mills River, great for fishing, tubing, or just listening to the river babble. The private bathroom included on the group site was clean. The other shower/bathroom building that was a 5 minute walk away was exceptionally clean. The group site had ample parking for our three cars. Site also included 4 picnic tables, bear box to store food, water pump, and a fire pit with removable grill grate. Tons of extra space to play frisbee and other games. The campsite is a 25 minute drive from Pisgah National Forest, where we did some great waterfall and landscape hikes.

Great campground just inside Pisgah National Forest. Camped in the Riverbend section. Site was decent size with large tent pad, table and parking for two cars. A little close to neighbors but not too bad. Some sites in Riverbend offer more privacy. Can’t beat location, mountain bike trails easily rideable from campground. Plus The Hub, Ecusta Brewing just down the road. Easy walking access to Davidson River. Clean bathrooms/showers.

We stayed at Bear Den at the end  of October 2020 to enjoy the autumn colors in Western NC.   I loved being able to camp in our little Casita in Pisgah National Forest right off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We were able to take advantage of hiking at Linville Falls/Gorge, Grandfather Mountain and Hawksbill Mountain.  Plenty of other activities around if hiking is not your thing.   Some of the sites are a bit close due to it being a private campground.  However, we scouted out the best sites for us and are rebooked in a much more private site for 2021.   Wi-fi is only available up near the visitors center.  Well maintained campground with clean facilities.  Water, electric and sewer hook up available.

Really cute campground just a short jaunt to the beautiful multi-level Catawba Falls hike in the Pisgah National Forest. We stayed in a tent site VERY close to a rushing creek of cool water. The sound definitely helped put me to sleep!

The tent sites all have a tent pad, camp ring, trash can, and picnic table provided. This site had a bit more privacy than others we saw and was on the other side of the property from the RV area, which also included a playground, bathrooms, showers, and small store. There are also small tiny cabins to rent out which is great if you had a large group and not everyone was down for roughin' it. Some tent sites were also close to shared pavilions which were very nice to use during the rainy weekend we experienced! We appreciated the hot showers since we were outside hiking all day but wanted to hit up some sights in Asheville that evening without looking too worn out.

The people who run the camp were extremely nice and helpful -- we arrived later than expected in a downpour thunderstorm and they were able to accommodate us and transfer us and our bags from the car to the site via golf cart.

A smaller campsite but very well organized and maintained. Small lake on site. Several hiking trails nearby. You can hike a trail into the NC Arboretum. Very near Asheville and Biltmore Estates. Tent sites, RV sites and Glamping sites. Clean bathrooms and properly supervised. A hidden gem minutes from Asheville

We are beginner campers and had a great experience here for a long weekend camping trip.  We had a large double site with 2 tent pads and enough room for our friend's RV.  The campground is right on the Davidson River with a number of hiking & biking trail heads and plenty of spots to get into the river for tubing, fishing and swimming either within or just outside of the camp grounds.  The sites are spread out just enough to give you some privacy but close to make a quick trip to your neighbor in case you forgot something or need some help. :) There are clean bathrooms w/showers and helpful hosts on each loop. During our visit, our hosts spent the good part of one morning chasing a bear away due to someone leaving trash on their site.  It's also within 1/2 hour drive to a number of water falls and hiking trails of all levels (but mostly easy - moderate) in the Pisgah National Forest + plenty more if you drive further.  I would definitely come back here but I heard from the hosts on our loop that it books up quickly.  We got lucky booking at the last minute.

I only stayed a night here but it was just the spot I needed to reorganize my truck and enjoy a wonderful hot shower.

Also really needed the quick swil in the lake in the evening.

This site sells ice and firewood usually (they were out of ice when I was there) and also has a number of "glamping" tents available to reserve.

Ranger Review: Eclipse Sun Sleeves at Harmon Den Area(Pisgah National Forest) https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=70836

There are a few dispersed camping sites at Harmon’s Den, and they are spacious sanctuaries beside Cold Springs Creek. Harmon Den is in Pisgah National Forest, and dispersed camping is allowed but only where there is a camping symbol posted along Cold Springs Creek Road. To get to the campsite, you have to get off on Exit 7 along Interstate 40 in North Carolina and travel a gravel road for several miles. You will not want to drive too fast since there are several potholes, washboards, and protruding rocks in the road. At the campsite, there is a fire ring, but there are no other facilities such as bathrooms, showers, electricity, running water, trash cans, camp store, firewood for sale, campground hosts, etc. It is pretty much just a space for camping. With that said, it offers all the exciting activities that national forests offer, such as fishing, biking, hiking, etc. Harmon Den is mostly known as a horse camp, although car camping without horses is a common occurrence. When I was there, I passed by a couple of car campers that did not have horses. I did see a few vehicles with horse trailers pass by on the road. Because it is a popular horse camping area, you have to watch where you step. At our campsite, there was horse poop in several places, and I had to watch my grandson closely so he didn’t step in a pile of horse manure. Expect to encounter horse flies as well. There was also lots of poison ivy, so that was another concern I had about my grandson running freely. Since there are no bathrooms, practicing LNT(Leave No Trace) is important. Unfortunately, there was lots of trash, but that was a teachable moment for my grandson, and we definitely left the campsite better than what we found it. Before it gets dark, make sure you know where you are going to take care of business when you have to get up in the middle of the night. That way, you can avoid stepping in the wrong place. There were also quite a few people fishing in the creek on the way to the campsite since the creek is a popular place for trout fishing. As a matter of fact, a wildlife officer came through our camp with a fishnet full of trout to stock the creek. She asked us if we brought our fishing poles. Unfortunately, that’s one thing I didn’t take camping with me. What was I thinking? Even with the horse poop and the poison ivy, it’s a great area for camping if you like solitude and the sounds of the creek throughout the night. Another reason to camp at Harmon Den is to visit Max Patch while you are there. I would suggest staying at least two nights so you can spend one day just enjoying Max Patch. It is a large mountain bald over which the Appalachian Trail crosses. I have been there in the past when people are having picnics, flying kites, or just lying on a blanket enjoying the magnificent scenery. If you go at the right time of year, one of the trails up to Max Patch will take you by wild blueberries and blackberries. As I stated earlier, the campsites are spacious, and it felt very peaceful just being there. 

Product Review: 

As a Dyrt Ranger I get to occasionally try out outdoor products while camping and this trip I brought Eclipse Sun Sleeves(https://eclipseglove.com/)..) As a stem cell transplant survivor from stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, I can never be in the sun without adequate protection for the rest of my life. That’s why Eclipse clothing is perfect for me. Even in the middle of the summer, I have had to wear long sleeves and a broad-brimmed hat. I had earlier written a review for the Eclipse shawl, but with the Eclipse Sun Sleeves, I can finally wear my short sleeve shirts again. Since I love the outdoors and have some cool t-shirts, all I have to do is put on my sun sleeves and I am protected. The only thing I could see that might need improving would be to figure out how to keep the upper part to stay up. It wasn’t that much of a problem, and I don’t how the company could solve it, but overall, the sun sleeves are great. I would further like to say that because of sun sleeves, those who are allergic to the sun have one less excuse not to go outdoors in the sun..

(As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am occasionally given the opportunity to stay at campgrounds to help expand the listings on the site. I was given the chance to stay at Greenheart Forest through this program.)

Located in Pisgah National Forest, Greenheart Forest labels itself as a place of healing, and that description could not be more accurate. David and Jeannette, the owners, are both incredibly nice. From our initial phone call, to meeting them, to when we said goodbye, they were so kind and conversational in all of our interactions.I spent a lot of time talking to David about his passion—and the mission of Greenheart Forest—of forest bathing and terra psychology. 

The campground itself is both small and large. There are only five sites available for booking, but they are considerably spaced out, and the sites themselves are very large. While the sites are technically“drive-in,” the road to get to them is very difficult to navigate unless you have 4-wheel drive, so when planning the trip, plan to either hike-in(about 200 yards or so), or to pay$5 each direction for David or his wife to provide portage of your gear. When we went it was raining pretty heavily and my front-wheel drive RAV-4 could not make it, so we took advantage of David’s truck. 

Site 1 is the closest to the lodge/parking lot, with a covered picnic table. Site 2 is the“glamping” site, available at an upcharge; David has a 10-person tent, 2-room tent set up that includes two cots in one“room,” and a rug and chairs in the other. This site is huge, with a large fire ring, and ample room to set up other tents. We stayed here and were able to set up a second tent and a screen shelter with room to spare. Site 3 is also very large, with wooden benches around the fire ring, a gravel tent pad, and plenty of ground space for additional tents. This is also the site closest to the“privy;” a pop up tent set up around a bucket with toilet paper and a bucket of leaves to aide in decomposition.(There is a bathroom with running water in the lodge as well.) Sites 4 and 5 are the furthest from the lodge, with site 5 being the most private and slightly downhill from the others. This site was occupied when we went so I could not get a good look at it, but the privacy it had was incredible. 

These are tent sites only; they will not accommodate RVs, and sites 3 and 5 are not accessible by vehicle, but by short trails past the other campsites. There is no electricity at the sites, and water is available at the lodge but must be carried the rest of the way. 

The road that takes you to sites 1 and 2 stretches towards the edge of David’s property, and ends in a trail that takes you to the Max Patch summit via the Buckeye Ridge Trail, about 3 miles round trip from the campground to the summit. We did not get to explore the trail, but have been to Max Patch and it is incredible and well worth the walk if your trip allows time for it. 

Even better than the wide and open campsites though, is the overall atmosphere David has created. He has a zen garden for walking and meditation, flowers everywhere, and community places set up both inside and outside the the lodge for talking to other campers. His background in Forest Bathing has led to building a place of love and healing, and it shows in everything from the moment you first turn into the driveway. We came with kids, and while everything was very child-friendly, this would be a wonderful place to come alone if you needed to get into the forest and clear your head, or with a retreat looking for a place to facilitate deeper healing or meditations.

Just a stone’s throw from the bustle of Asheville, yet secluded enough to forget it all, this little gem is conveniently located at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest.

I went camping here on November 2nd, just after half of the campground closes for the off season. Usually starting at $22 per night, after November 1st the prices get cut in half, so I stayed for $11 (hard to beat)! To pay you fill out a permit envelope, tear off the receipt, include your payment and insert it into a mailbox of sorts. Make sure to bring a writing utensil (I forgot one, but luckily my neighbors let me borrow theirs). You then simply place the receipt portion in the provided zip-lock bag on the number post in front of your site. Check-out time is noon.

Each site comes with a gravel platform for your tent, picnic table, bear box, and a fire pit with a grill top. I opted to set up my backpacking tent in the bed of my pickup, but the site was very clean and well maintained. The host made rounds in the evening and the following morning, and was very approachable and informative, and even gave out weather predictions for the coming days to those who asked. The bathroom facilities may be limited in the off-season due to being unheated, but they were open during my stay, and shower facilities are available during the regular season.

I had a blast enjoying the peace and serenity of the woods, smelling the autumn spice of decaying leaves and campfires, and listening to the babbling river that runs through the center of campground. The other occupants were quite mellow, with no unwanted noise or partying (not that it would be a deal breaker, everyone camps a little differently). In the morning I took a stroll through the recreation area and got to see the group sites; everything was pristine and gorgeous in the gleaming yellow sunlight. My pooch also enjoyed the area, and I was grateful for the free bags to pick up after her.

I would recommend this little spot to anyone looking for a quick getaway from the traffic and humdrum of the nearby townships, as well as visitors to the park. Hiking trails, fishing and hunting opportunities, and scenic waterfalls are all nearby, making the location prime. A big chain grocer is also just a 10 minute drive up the road, making it easy to grab last minute items you may have forgotten. I look forward to returning!

We had a lot of fun at our glamping campsite. The gorgeous tent was on a platform and included a large bed and decorated interior. The site had a campfire ring and was close to the bathroom. The platform had some chairs and the campfire wood was there for us.

I did have a bear encounter on my way to the bathroom during the night, but we both just backed away slowly. This was actually the experience that made me pro-camper with a bathroom lol.

The camp host arrived shortly after we did to check in on us and to give us the lay of the land. He fortunately also came around the next morning when our car battery was dead and gave us a jump.

The best thing about Lake Powhatan is the the nice hike around the lake and the fun little lake beach. It’s the perfect size for kids. Plenty of people also seem to enjoy the biking, but it’s a bit uphill for me and there can be a fair amount of cars.

Lake Powhatan is a great little getaway!

Lake Powhatan Campground, Asheville, NC 

Tucked quietly away only 10 miles southwest of Asheville, Lake Powhatan Campground(within Pisgah National Forest) is a popular but peaceful campground. 

PROS:

•Quiet, peaceful and clean•Beautiful mountain setting

•Plenty to do in and around the campground

•Spacious sites and spaced apart

•Trails by the miles

•Modern facilities-Hot Showers•

CONS:

•Trail maps would be useful

•Site 28/29 picnic tables were entirely rotted

Three loops off to the left of the main entry(Big John Loop 1-21; Bent Creek Loop 22-35; Lakeside Loop 36-57)...just past Smokey the Bear...and then a 4th larger loop straight down the hill from the Entrance office and to the right(Hard Times Loop 58-97). Which is where the“luxury cabin tents” are located on a separate loop within. These large cabin tents appear nicely appointed, on an elevated wooden platform with tarred porch.

All four loops have a smattering of all types of sites...some that accommodate trailers, some offer pull-thru drives, some electric and water, some have steps up or down to gravel tent platforms. Something for everybody.

The restroom/shower house in each loop offers four(4) doors on one side. Two(2) outer doors are individual unisex bathrooms and the two(2) inner doors are individual showers. All are spacious, well-maintained and stocked. It was in the low 40’s at night and only the restroom and shower on the left side were heated, the right ones were not. I was advised that this campground and facilities are open year round. We stayed at site 28/29(a shared pull-through). Tents must remain on the gravel pull-through...bent a lot of tent stakes on that one. Water spigots are spaces evenly throughout the loops.

Lake Powhatan itself is a dammed reservoir. A picturesque setting, but more the size of a pond than a lake. There is a nice fishing dock and a separate swimming area. The feeder stream is stocked with rainbow and browns.

Trails abound...for hiking, biking and equestrian. Mountain biking seems all the rage. I was dismayed(as a lifelong cyclist) of the lack of common courtesy trail etiquette...like“on your left” or“passing.” Several bombed by without a word and most are narrow trails. Some education needs to take place.

Speaking of trails, the trailhead maps were not adequately informative and the campground was out of the pocket size. Cell service is pretty nonexistent so you can’t utilize some trail apps unless you preload them...Our campground neighbors got lost mountain biking. Locals know the trails intimately, but visitors do not. One trail leads to the NC Arboretum...a very worthwhile visit!...but is quite lengthy round trip. Tuesday was half off entrance at the arboretum for carloads...quite a deal at$8. Several local Craft breweries and Cider Mills close by...and you couldn’t throw a stone in any direction without hitting a bicycle shop. Shameless plug for the Bold Rock Cider Mill and their food truck...the smokehouse bacon burger and apple-grilled cheese sandwiches were excellent. Asheville has a REI and a Sportsman Warehouse nearby, but my favorite is the Frugal Backpacker(which was sadly closed during this visit).

I really wanted to love Lake Powhatan, it’s so close to Asheville and I thought it would be my go to place to stay when I wanted to visit friends there but the staff was rude and there were so many loud groups at night. I had a prime site with lots of space between myself and my neighbors and an easy walk to the bathrooms with hot showers. Dogs aren’t allowed in the small lake but there are tons of streams along the trails they are allowed in so that was perfect for my senior dog to cool off. The trails were crowded with people and mountain bikers but conveniently located to the campground. Along the streams there were tons of these tiny blue butterflies and I saw a young bear stroll past my campsite one morning, just magical really. At night people showed up late slamming car doors and partying at several sites, some that I could hear weren’t even on my loop and it was a bit frustrating. I also had a very uncomfortable interaction with one of the men working their (who didn’t make it clear he even worked there) who basically restricted my movement for several minutes and then accused me of trying to steal from the glamping sites because I was driving around checking out where I might stay the next time. I was so uncomfortable I packed up to leave right after and the people at the site next to me said they had issues the previous year with the staff, really unfortunate when you are trying to relax in nature. They and I emailed the campground about the incidents with no response from management, I will not be going back.

Ranger Review: Primus New Primetech CampFire Utility Sack at Black Mountain Campground, NC.

Campground:

Black Mountain Campground in the Pisgah National Forest, is nestled in Burnsville, NC but you must work at it to get there. https://cfaia.org/black-mountain-briar-bottom-campgrounds-in-north-carolina/

The Black Mountain Campground is an extremely popular campground. During season, the summer month weekends and holidays...book your reservations online, because they don't do it by phone when calling the campground. We chanced it, traveling 8 hours from the backwoods of W.VA to this location, in a bit of a panic as they only had two sites available on a Sunday night. Fortunately for us, we captured the last available site. With only 46 sites, it fills up quick.

I'm sure Black Mountain Campground is popular to different folks for different reasons, but the reasons are many!

I'm not a weekend campground camper by choice...I prefer the backwoods primitive sites during those peak times...but I enjoy campgrounds during the week when the rest of the world is hard at work earning a living.

Black Mountain Campground was jam packed on a Sunday night...and initially more noisy than I like, but by 11 p.m., all you could hear were owls and the South Toe River serenading their sweet sounds.

As stated, we landed on the last available site #9, though conveniently located between the water spigot on one side and the showerhouse/restrooms on the other...not only is it the hub of "activity" all hours of the day and night...the lights remain on all night inside the restrooms and shine out glass peak windows into site #9. Plus it was one of the small sites in the campground. Nonetheless, we had a place to lay our heads...and I was grateful.

The site itself, is a tent only site, with gravel parking along the campground loop roadway. The site is elevated above the roadway and grass and outlined by timbers...a fine chip gravel base for both the picnic table/fire ring area and the separate tent pad area (as are most tent sites in this loop). Most of the sites along the river are tent only sites. The tent sites directly along the riverside are all nice... on the second night we pulled up stakes and moved directly across the campground loop road to site #6 on the river...and a much larger site with trees for hammocking...and great views of the river below (about a 8 foot drop).

The hosts do a marvelous job of keeping this campground spotless and attractive. Three different couples work tirelessly to provide a great camping experience for all-comers. There was not a moment that I did not see at least one of them picking up trash, emptying trash containers, scouring showers and restrooms or inquiring if you had need of anything. The showers and restrooms are impeccably clean and supplied...and there are several throughout this small campground. The service they provided was more hospitable than most five star hotels I've been to. May their tribe increase! They'll deliver firewood ($5) to your site by golf cart, they even will collect your site fees as they drive around.

Here are a few reasons I find this campground so popular: Trails...and lots of them...in every direction. You can begin the Mountain to Sea Trail here...the start of the Mt. Mitchell Trail (11.2 roundtrip) begins in the campground with non-campground hikers having a parking lot just across the bridge. Interesting sidenote: non-campground hikers can use the restrooms, but must pay $5 if they desire to utilize the showers. That's fair. There is a nice trail to SetRock Falls, right on the campground property...and several other foot trails to keep you busy and hiking.

Interestingly, the gravel forest road up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, that most people will take to drive to Mt. Mitchell, is lined with several pull-off primitive campsites. Most are situated either on a water source (the South Toe River) or close by where you can access water for filtration and use. No other facilities. Those tenting areas are marked with a brown (mile marke style plastic post) sign with a "tent emblem" at the top. These are free spots, so they fill pretty quick. Note that the gravel road is steep at times and minimally maintained, it is more a forest service road, so washboard and pot holes abound. I might drive your Lexus sedan on it, but I wouldn't drive mine ...if I owned one.

Also note that the trails are just that...trails...heavily traveled trails...so use proper footwear...rocks and roots abound. I'd even recommend trekking poles for sure-footedness and stability.

Another highlight closeby the campground is the Roaring Fork Falls, a short half mile walk back from a side road parking lot. The parking lot is small, so arrive early. The trail is also a forestry service road of some sort, but the trail to the falls is marked by a blue diamond blaze. Its a bit of a root infested scamper, but worth it.

There is a swimming hole on the South Toe River in the campground just beyond the end of the riverside sites. It has a small sandy "beach" area and a neck deep refreshing hole.

The campground office is tiny, but they sell ice cream bars for a buck! Say what?! Its true...I capitalized.

The Black Mountain Campground was a relaxing highlight during our travels, one which I look forward to returning to.

Product Review: Primus New Primetech CampFire Utility Sack

The New Primus Primetech CampFire Utility Sack is an 8 liter watertight, roll-top, rip-stop poly/cotton dream!

I purchased the Primetech CampFire Utility Sack from their website specifically for a backcountry backpacking trip. I figured if Primus' claims of watertightness and durability were accurate, this Utility Sack would be just what I was looking for. At $25, it wasn't going to break the bank if it was a disappointment.

When the Primetech CampFire Utility Sack arrived, I was suspect because it appeared so small in its packaging, so I immediately thought it was neither large enough or tough enough. The spoiler: I was wrong.

The ripstop poly/cotton material is stout and durable. I'd use the term bombproof, but no sooner do you say that...it fails...but I beat this sack up and it still looks new.

Its my favorite backcountry color...black...so it won't show stains with extended use and abuse.

The interior utilizes a heavy waterproof seam sealed coating. Stitching is heavy duty too. The roll-down closure is rimmed with webbing for added durability and a sturdy metal hook closure.

My thoughts of use were several...but main usage for the trip fell into gathering water to cook and filter, away from the water source...and one that perhaps Primus did not consider...a bear bag. Yep! I put five days worth of meals (for 3) and trail snacks...and some scented sundry items...secured the rolltop...ran paracord around the handle and hoisted it high into the air each night (well, except one night where the only trees were small tundra confiers). Not sure if the bears saw or smelled it...but it served the purpose with flying colors. Bonus: because of the CampFire Utility Sack's watertightness...when used as a hung bear bag...the contents remained dry despite the deluge we endured.

An unexpected but delightful use, that I'm sure disclaimers will now follow, because of its watertightness, durability and looped handle...it makes a wonderful buoyancy float when cruising lazy river currents on your back. Of course, I never saw anyone attempt this craziness...um...but it works.

Do realize that 8 liters of water is 16.74 pounds...so you don't want to haul it a long journey, but you could. Even resting the CampFire Utility Sack on the ground when filled, the contents stay contained within...in equal parts the tough exterior material, watertight interior coating and rolldown closure, and a flat bottom. When empty the New Primetech CampFire Utility Sack folds up surprisingly small and flat.

The Primus New Primetech CampFire Utility Sack is a very welcomed addition to my backpacking and campground stable of neccessities.

Jake from the Dyrt here!  I had the opportunity to talk with Kimberly about her amazing farm and she is looking forward to welcoming more campers to stay in this great area of North Carolina.  Check out the farm and please post some pictures and a review on The Dyrt about about your experience!

We stayed for six days in March. We loved everything about this campground. The sites are spacious and well spaced, offering more privacy than many locations. The showers and bathrooms were very clean. There are numerous hikes that are on the grounds or just outside. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The campground is 15 minutes from downtown Asheville and 5 minutes from the North Carolina arboretum.

While it is close to a highway it is far enough away not to hear it but convenient to many places to visit including Asheville, The Blue Ridge Parkway and many national Forests and Parks. It is situated on a small river which makes a wonderful backdrop noise to the experience and your sleep. A short not overly strenuous hike to beautiful Catawba Falls to enjoy the beauty of the North Carolina mountains. The staff is helpful and the facilities are more than adequate. Highly recommend this campsite

Be prepared for an encyclopedia of reading all the rules. I found the yurts and cabins to be way too close together for any type of privacy. Maybe they have it set up that way for big groups to come in at once? But it was so noisy with kids and dogs echoing in the valley, and we could even hear the neighboring cabins talking while sitting around their campfire. I suppose if I was there with a group of close friends it would be okay but it seems with all the land they have that they could have given each person more privacy in their spaces. One more thing that may help is we hiked all of the trails and noticed in several places there were 3-4 inch protrusions where small trees where cut down but not cut all the way back to the ground and I almost sprained my ankle. They all did spray paint some of the roots and had the trails nice and cleared but the exposed ends of the small trees throughout the trail are a real hazard. I’m super fit and have good eyesight and hike a lot so I was able to dodge many of them but I’m sure the kids and the older adults may get hurt. Other than the close proximity of the cabins/yurts/RVs and the exposed tree stubs I think they have a great concept (for large group events) and we enjoyed our stay. One more thing the shower handle falls off in the small yurt.