MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Recreation managers on the Mendocino National Forest are seeking comments on a proposal to install a yurt at one campsite at the Sycamore Grove Campground, located within the Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area. 

The campsite currently has electricity and potable water hookups and fee is $25 per night. The proposed fee increase for the campsite with yurt is $40 per night.

Sycamore Grove Campground is a 30-unit campground which provides tent and RV camping adjacent to the Sacramento River.

Ten of the campsites within the campground provide electric hook-ups. The forest is proposing installing a yurt within one of the existing campsites with electric and potable water hookups.

The yurt would be available for rental on a first-come-first-served basis or by reservation through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) at 877-444-6777 or at www.recreation.gov . The NRRS charges a $9 reservation fee.

Yurts are becoming increasingly popular at campgrounds throughout the West. They provide a secure, comfortable, weatherproof tent-cabin experience, complete with beds to accommodate up to five people. Yurts are canvas sided with windows, a locking door, vented roof, lights and electricity. Fire rings and picnic tables will be provided within the campsite.

“We are excited about the opportunity to provide this unique camping experience on the Mendocino National Forest,” said Grindstone District Ranger Eduardo Olmedo. “By offering yurts at Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area, we hope to encourage people from all walks of life, all ages, and with all levels of camping experience to come out and enjoy camping on the National Forest.”

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to keep 95 percent of the fees collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain and improve these sites.

Fees collected from the yurt rental will fund operations and maintenance and could be used to expand the yurt program in the future based on popularity and public demand for this type of recreation opportunity.

This fee proposal will be presented before a citizen’s advisory committee, called the California Recreation Resource Advisory Committee, or RRAC. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups.

The public is welcome to attend and comment at all advisory committee meetings. More information about the RRAC, including meeting dates and locations can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r5/recreation/racs .

If this fee proposal is approved, it is anticipated that the yurt would become available for overnight rental in the spring 2014.

For more information, or to comment on this proposal, please contact Grindstone Ranger District Recreation Manager Randy Jero at 530-934-1269 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Comments may also be submitted by mail to: Mendocino National Forest, 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988.