Washington parks rent out yurts, cabins and historic houses to vacationers

For winter campers who don't want to brave the rain and cold in a tent (and don't own an RV), Washington state parks offer yurts for nightly rental. Some parks also rent simple cabins and even luxury accommodations, including a historic lightkeeper's residence.

Here's a sampling of what's available:

Yurts

Yurts are circular, domed tents of heavy canvas with wood floors and locking doors, usually around 16 feet in diameter with a domed roof. They have bunk beds (but bring your own sleeping bag or linens) and electrical power, with a floor lamp and often a heater. Rates for a Washington state park yurt start at about $45-$55 a night for the rest of this year, and most can sleep up to five people.

Washington parks where you can rent a yurt include:

• Cape Disappointment State Park (formerly called Fort Canby State Park), on the Long Beach Peninsula.

• Grayland Beach State Park, near Westport, Grays Harbor County, on the Pacific Coast.

• Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, on the Green River near Enumclaw.

• Seaquest State Park, near Castle Rock, Cowlitz County (and Mount St. Helens).

• To get more details on yurt and cabin rentals, see the Web site of Washington State Parks at www.parks.wa.gov/yurtsandcabins/yurtcabin.asp and book by phoning 888-226-7688.

• Yurts also can be rented at Kayak Point Regional Park, a Snohomish County park on Puget Sound near Stanwood. (The park also has Kayak Kotttage, a three-bedroom, old-fashioned house for rent.) Small cabins also can be rented at Snohomish County's Flowing Lake Park, east of Everett. Get information at www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/.

Cabins and more

Some Washington state parks have small cabins for rent. Many are simple, one-room structures, just a step up from camping, with shared bathrooms nearby and cooking done outdoors, although some bigger cabins and bungalows offer kitchenettes, private bathrooms and sometimes separate bedrooms.

• Cama Beach State Park opened more than two dozen renovated beachfront cabins in the summer at what began as a 1930s fishing resort. There also are several larger bungalows for rent at the Camano Island park. Offseason rates for one of the basic cabins (with a shared bathroom nearby) begins at about $30 a night from now until April 15; it then increases to $62 a night for the spring/summer season next year. See www.parks.wa.gov/CamaBeach or phone 360-387-1550.