How to Get a Moenkopi Yurts Permit
Five yurts in a secluded cul-de-sac near the park entrance, each with a private spur onto the Intrepid mountain bike trails - and the only Dead Horse Point lodging that takes dogs.
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Daily Permits
$150 per night plus taxes; $100 plus taxes July 7 - September 1, December 1 - 20 and January 3 - February 13. $20 extra vehicle; $20 per pet per stay (maximum two dogs)
Permit Cost
1-3 nights
Duration
easy
Difficulty
About Moenkopi Yurts
The Moenkopi yurts are five units in a secluded cul-de-sac near the entrance of Dead Horse Point State Park, with sweeping views and a private spur to the Intrepid Mountain Biking Trail System. Each yurt sleeps up to six people on a bunk bed - queen on the bottom, full mattress on top - plus a pullout futon couch with a full mattress. Every yurt has heating and cooling units, electrical outlets, a mini fridge and microwave, tables indoors and outdoors, lamps and fire pits, and an outdoor propane grill with propane included. Modern restroom facilities are located within easy walking distance. Bedding is not provided. This is the only lodging in the park that takes dogs: a maximum of two are allowed inside a Moenkopi yurt for $20 per pet per stay, leashed on six feet or shorter, or crated. Smoking and cooking are not allowed inside, and tent and trailer camping is not allowed by the yurts. The standard rate is $150 plus taxes, discounted to $100 plus taxes from July 7 to September 1, December 1 to 20 and January 3 to February 13. Check-in is 3:00 p.m. and check-out is noon. Reservations run on a four-month rolling basis through ReserveAmerica or 1-800-322-3770. The park is at 5,900 feet, is an International Dark Sky Park, has no showers, and has no water available for fillups - fill your containers in Moab, 32 miles away.
These are the original yurts at Dead Horse Point, and with five units they are the largest lodging inventory on the mesa. They are also the only place in the park a dog can sleep indoors, which quietly makes them the target for a lot of Moab road trips. Same 5,900-foot International Dark Sky Park, same 2,000-foot canyon rim, one more unit to aim at than Wingate.
The Experience
The cul-de-sac is set back from the campground, so it is quieter than the main loops. Sweeping views open off the mesa and the La Sal Mountains catch the last of the sun. You can put a bike straight onto the Intrepid system from your own spur, come back, run the AC or the heater, and cook on a grill the park keeps in propane.
The five Moenkopi yurts sit in a secluded cul-de-sac near the park entrance, separate from the Wingate and Kayenta campgrounds. Each sleeps up to six on a bunk bed with a queen on the bottom and a full mattress on top, plus a pullout futon couch with a full mattress. Heating and cooling units, electrical outlets, a mini fridge and microwave, tables indoors and outdoors, lamps and fire pits come with the unit, and the park supplies propane for the outdoor grill. Modern restroom facilities are within easy walking distance. A private spur connects the yurts directly to the Intrepid Mountain Biking Trail System - nearly 30 miles of trail - and the park's eight miles of hiking trails run along both rims to the overlook itself.
What to Expect
Five yurts - the largest lodging inventory at Dead Horse Point - in a cul-de-sac near the park entrance
Sleeping for up to six: a bunk bed with a queen below and a full above, plus a pullout futon couch
Heating and cooling units, electrical outlets, mini fridge and microwave in every unit
An outdoor propane grill with propane included, tables indoors and outdoors, lamps and fire pits
A private spur onto the Intrepid Mountain Biking Trail System
Up to two dogs allowed inside for $20 per pet per stay - the only pet-friendly lodging in the park
No showers anywhere in the park and no water available for fillups
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Permit Requirements
A maximum of two dogs are allowed inside a Moenkopi yurt, for $20 per pet per stay; no other pets are allowed
Dogs must be leashed on six feet or shorter, or crated, and never left unattended
Smoking and cooking are not allowed inside the yurts
Tent and trailer or RV camping is not allowed by the yurts
Bedding is not provided
Check-in is 3:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 p.m.
Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily
There are no EV charging stations for yurt occupants and extension cords may not be used
Reservations are on a four-month rolling basis, up to four months prior to arrival
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •Your own bedding for the queen, the full bunk and the futon
- •All your water, filled before you leave Moab
- •Firewood for the fire pit, bought in town
- •A leash six feet or shorter, or a crate, if you are bringing dogs
- •Warm layers for the mesa after dark in any season
- •Shower supplies for a stop in Moab - the park has none
Hazards & Safety
Unfenced canyon rim with 2,000 feet of exposure - keep dogs leashed near the edge
No water in the park; arriving short is the mistake that ends trips here
High desert heat with little natural shade outside the yurt
Spotty cell service, with WiFi only at the visitor center
Dogs are not allowed on the mountain bike trails, only the hiking trails
Best Time to Visit
The $100 discount windows - July 7 to September 1, December 1 to 20 and January 3 to February 13 - are both the cheapest and the most bookable stretches, and the heating and cooling units make them comfortable regardless of the outside temperature. Spring and fall are the best conditions on the mesa and correspondingly the hardest to reserve. The park is open year round, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Pro Tips
Aim for the $100 windows - July 7 to September 1, December 1 to 20 and January 3 to February 13 are cheaper and easier to get.
With five units, Moenkopi is the best cancellation target at Dead Horse Point. Watch all five rather than a specific yurt.
This is the only lodging in the park a dog can sleep in, so book here first if you are travelling with one.
Bring bedding. Nothing is provided for the queen, the full bunk or the futon.
Fill every water container in Moab, 32 miles out. There is no water in the park.
Use the private trail spur - you can ride the Intrepid system straight from the cul-de-sac without loading the bike.
Book four months to the day ahead. The rolling window is the only reliable release moment on lodging this small.
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This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Moenkopi Yurts permit?
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Moenkopi Yurts permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Moenkopi Yurts?
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The $100 discount windows - July 7 to September 1, December 1 to 20 and January 3 to February 13 - are both the cheapest and the most bookable stretches, and the heating and cooling units make them comfortable regardless of the outside temperature. Spring and fall are the best conditions on the mesa and correspondingly the hardest to reserve. The park is open year round, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
How difficult is Moenkopi Yurts?
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Mountain bikers and dog owners. The private spur puts you on the Intrepid system without loading the bike, and this is the only lodging in the park where a dog can sleep inside.
What gear do I need for Moenkopi Yurts?
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Essential gear includes: Your own bedding for the queen, the full bunk and the futon, All your water, filled before you leave Moab, Firewood for the fire pit, bought in town, A leash six feet or shorter, or a crate, if you are bringing dogs, Warm layers for the mesa after dark in any season. Additional specialized gear may be required based on conditions.
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