Staying in Kenauk Nature’s Yurt with a Toddler (and a Dog!) in the Winter

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This winter, we were thrilled when Kenauk Nature offered to host us and let us check out their yurt. We love the idea of camping in the winter! But we also need to make sure our daughter is still warm and comfortable, because she’s just fifteen months old. So a “glamping” trip was the perfect fit for us!

Kenauk Nature is only an hour from Ottawa, and it’s a stunning vacation spot. They have beautiful places to stay, and tons of activities to take part in year round! Hiking, snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice fishing, rock climbing, clay shooting… No matter what season you go in, there’s something cool to try out.

Not to mention, the yurt was the most luxurious that we’ve ever stayed in. And our dog was allowed to stay with us too, which was awesome.

Below, we’ve shared our experience staying in the yurt with a toddler, and included our best tips for when you decide to visit!

Our daughter had a great time staying at Kenauk Nature’s yurt and it was so nice to relax together for a few days!

Getting There and Checking In

Kenauk Nature is near Montebello, making it the perfect distance for a road trip and a weekend away. You can use these coordinates to get there: 45.712635, -74.888082.

Driving into the Reserve, signs directed us to the Welcome Centre. We stopped there to check in. There was wifi at the Welcome Centre, which was great because there’s only cell reception in certain spots in the Reserve.

Staff there helped me to download the “Ondago” app, a cool app that let us use maps offline, in order to navigate the roads and trail systems at Kenauk Nature.

There were snowshoes for rent at the Welcome Centre, as well as necessities for sale in the gift shop, such as neck warmers, lighters, toiletries, and some food staples like pasta sauce and soup.

We grabbed the key to the yurt, as well as an electronic pass for the gates, and we were on our way!

Tips:

-Make sure you have snow tires on your car. The roads at Kenauk Nature are hilly!

-Get there early! Check in is at 3 p.m. but there’s no reason you can’t explore the park and go hiking before going to the yurt.

-Make your packing list early so you don’t forget anything for the kids! As you go through your day, jot down things they need that you won’t be able to pack until the last minute (sleep sacks, lovies, sippy cups… the list goes on!)

“Let’s go on an adventure Mama!” At least, I hope that’s what she’s thinking…

Hiking to the Yurt

In the winter, some of the roads at Kenauk Nature are groomed as cross country ski trails. So when we arrived at the sign for the yurt, we still had to hike in about 500 metres along one of the trails.

Staff at the Reserve had set out two sleds for us, but we had brought ours from home so we just used that to pull all our stuff to the yurt. We use a tote bin for packing our daughter’s things, because it’s easy to see what’s inside and it’s nice and solid to stack other things on top of. Then, we strapped everything onto the sled with bungee cords so we knew nothing would fall off. We also used a back pack, and our daughter’s carrier in order to get everything (and every one) into the yurt.

The walk in was really easy, and quite flat. The trail was groomed, so even though our daughter wanted to walk and our dog is ancient, we were able to make it to the yurt in fifteen minutes. There was no way we could have missed it, because the trail split and we could easily see the yurt down by the lake.

Tips:

-If you have your own sled, pack it at home and strap everything in, then drop the whole thing into your trunk. That way you don’t have to fiddle around with anything in the cold, just take it out of the car and go!

On our way to the yurt, along a well groomed cross country ski trail.

A Warm Welcome Home

The yurt at Kenauk Nature is equipped with a wood stove, as well as a propane furnace to help heat it. The day we arrived it was only -5°C, and someone had turned on the propane furnace for us so when we walked into the yurt it already felt warm! We started a fire in the wood stove anyways, knowing that it would get colder at night and wanting to make sure it stayed warm for our daughter.

Then, we started to look around and settle in. The yurt was huge! I actually thought to myself that it was bigger than some bachelor apartments I’ve seen in Ottawa.

Near the wood stove was the kitchen, and beside that there was a full size dining table. There was also a futon in the yurt, which could fold down and act as an extra sleep space if needed.

The living room in the yurt!

There was a loft area built into the yurt, and up in the loft was where we slept. Beneath the loft was a small closet, and a BATHROOM. The bathroom just had a composting toilet, but as someone who’s used an outhouse often in the winter, I can tell you that an indoor toilet felt pretty luxurious!

Another lovely little touch was the basket of slippers left in the yurt. The floors in a yurt (or a cabin) can feel super cold in the winter, so we had actually packed our own slippers. We had planned on our daughter wearing her boot liners if the floor was cold, but they had a cute little MEC pair that fit her perfectly!

After checking everything out, we unpacked our things, got our daughter settled with some toys, and then started to make dinner.

Climbing up the ladder to check out the loft.

Staying Warm

Inside the yurt, there was firewood, as well as kindling, newspaper, and lighters to start the fire. There was extra firewood just outside the yurt, and even though the temperatures outside fell to -20°C, we didn’t even come close to running out of wood.

In order to keep the yurt warm when the temperatures dropped into the minus twenties, we did have to get up through the night to keep feeding the fire.

On the second night, the yurt was quite cool by 5 a.m. so our daughter decided she’d rather sleep with us. As soon as we got her under the covers she fell back asleep, so there was no way we were getting up to stoke the fire. We woke up a few hours later in a yurt that was cold enough for us to see our breath! But we were able to get it warmed up again fairly quickly.

Tips:

-Bring extra layers to wear inside, including warm clothes to sleep in (babies and toddlers should sleep in an extra layer too- you can even add a hat if they’re old enough).

-If you’ve never used a wood burning stove, watch a video online ahead of time!

Building the fire, with an audience.

Eating and Cleaning Up

The kitchen in the yurt was really well equipped! They had everything we needed, from pots and pans to mixing bowls, all sorts of utensils, a pasta strainers, and a chopping board. There wasn’t a fridge in the yurt, but there was a cooler, and we used that to store the food we had brought that needed to stay cool.

To cook on, there was an alcohol stove. We had never used one before, but it was really easy to light and to use.

For simplicity’s sake, we had actually cooked our dinners ahead of time. That way, we just needed to heat them up. In the mornings, we made pancakes, and for our lunches we had sandwiches with some fruit on the side.

The kitchen had EVERYTHING we needed, even a pasta strainer!

The last time we stayed in a cabin with our daughter we had decided to leave her high chair at home to lighten the load. But holding a squirmy toddler during mealtimes is a major hassle, so this time we brought it along. We also packed her usual plate, utensils, and sippy cups just so she could have the things she was used to.

A 5 gallon jug of water was provided, and we used that to wash our dishes. The sink drained into a bucket, because there’s no plumbing in the yurt. There was everything we needed in the yurt to wash our dishes and clean up after ourselves.

At the end of our stay, we didn’t have to pack out our garbage, empty the grey water, or empty the composting toilet. Kenauk Nature does it for you! Which is quite rare… So we ended up doing all of the above just because that’s what we’re used to. Just know that you don’t have to!

Tips:

-Do as much food prep as you can at home!

-Grab some snow or ice from outside to help keep food in the cooler cold.

Is there anything better than too much food and too much wine after a day of hiking?

Sleeping

Up in the loft, there was a double mattress as well as a single mattress for us to sleep on. They were quite comfy! We brought a set of sheets from home, and then just threw a sleeping bag over top. We also brought along little camp pillows, since none of that is provided. Because the loft was right above the wood burning stove, we were nice and warm going to sleep.

Even with both mattresses in the loft, there was still room for our daughter’s travel crib. Luckily, the sides of her crib are nice and tall, and there’s no way she could climb out yet. So we felt pretty safe having her sleep up high with us.

We also did a little experimenting and used the single mattress to block off the entrance to the stairs from the loft, as an added precaution. We used this technique on the second morning when the yurt got a little chilly and our daughter wanted to hop into bed with us.

The first night, our daughter was a little fussy because she could see us, and wanted to be with us instead of going to sleep. So we ended up using the towels in the yurt to block her view- problem solved!

Our daughter slept in her PikaLayers base layer and a fleece sleeper, as well as a winter sleep sack in order to stay warm. And she did stay pretty warm, and slept comfortably most of the time! On the second night, the temperature outside dropped to -20°C and we had been lazy about stoking the fire. So the temperature inside the yurt dropped low enough that we could see our breath, but we just let her snuggle under the covers with us for a few hours before we all got up in the morning.

Our sleep set up in the loft.

Tips:

-Bring linens, sleeping bags, and pillows because these aren’t provided (although you CAN rent them there).

-Use a travel crib that your toddler can’t get out of, to reduce the risk of falls. If you have a climber or a co-sleeper, make sure you block the opening to the stairs for the loft (but remember you’ll have to go down in the night to stoke the fire).

-Bring EVERYTHING your kid likes to sleep with- sleep sack, lovey, pacifiers, white noise… bring it all!

-If your child is still in a crib, have them sleep in it for a week or so before your trip so that they’re used to it for your trip.

This was our view, waking up in the yurt.

Hanging Out (Electricity?!)  

The yurt at Kenauk Nature had electricity! Which was actually quite exciting, since a lot of places to stay in the winter don’t. Not only was the kitchen and dining area well lit, they even had USB plugs for us to charge our stuff!

While our daughter was awake, we kept the yurt nice and bright to play with her. She goes to bed quite early though, so we were happy we had brought along our Coleman Rechargeable Lantern so that the bright lights wouldn’t keep her awake.

By the light of our little lantern we spent two cozy nights reading, playing cards, and drinking wine. It honestly doesn’t get much better.

Tips:

-Don’t forget your charging cords for any crucial devices.

-Bring an alternate light source if you’re travelling with young kids- the dining room light is BRIGHT!

The yurt at Kenauk Nature is nestled beside a beautiful lake. There’s a fire pit on the back deck, and I think it would be so fun to sit out there for a fire, but we ran out of time! This was our view from the front door.

Other Fun Stuff to Do at Kenauk Nature

There’s a ton to do at Kenauk Nature no matter what time of year you go. In the winter, there’s dog sledding, ice fishing, skating, and of course, snowshoeing!

We were mostly happy to have a low key couple of days together relaxing and recharging. But, we couldn’t resist the hiking trails, so we also spent some time out exploring those. There are ten trails to choose from in the Reserve, and it’s a tough call because two of them have fire towers! While we were out, we had the trail to ourselves and we got to hike through a ton of fresh powder.

Kenauk Nature is also super close to Montebello, so it’s easy to head into town. We decided to stop in on the way back to Ottawa, and enjoyed checking out all the little shops. We also stopped for a yummy lunch and some coffee before getting on the road back home!

Tips:

-If you don’t have kids, bring headlamps and go for a night hike!

-If you do have kids, go hiking during their nap time- they’re going to fall asleep while you’re out there anyway!

We had the hiking trails all to ourselves. And the snow up to our knees to prove it!

The Prospector’s Tent

Kenauk Nature is working on another cool place to stay, and they let us take a look while we were there! The Prospector’s Tent can be accessed via their cross-country ski trails, and is a great option for people who want to get just a little bit closer to winter camping. The tent itself is made of canvas built over a wooden frame and floor, so it’s nice and sturdy.

The Prospector’s Tent doesn’t have the luxuries of the yurt, and it’s much smaller. But it’s still big enough to fit a full size dining table and a bunk bed. There’s also a wood stove to keep it nice and warm, and a propane oven/stove to cook on. There’s no sink in the tent, and no washroom either.

The tent is so new that it doesn’t even appear on the Kenauk Nature website yet, but you can call to reserve it for the night!

A cozy front porch on Kenauk Nature’s prospector’s tent. It looks out over a beaver pond!

Safety

Taking a toddler anywhere that isn’t totally child proofed can be tricky. But I’ve actually found that taking our daughter to stay in places like Kenauk Nature‘s yurt is actually easier than taking her to friends or family (in some ways!). At the yurt, there simply wasn’t as much STUFF for her to get into, and I didn’t have to spend the whole day rescuing items from her curious hands.

There were really only two things that we had to make sure were safe for her- the sleeping loft, and the wood stove. Both proved to be no problem! As mentioned above, a good travel crib and a blockade can help reduce the risk of a fall.

Wood stoves get really hot, so we didn’t even give her a chance to get close to it. Right away, we made a sturdy barrier out of things in the yurt, as well as some of our own belongings. Our daughter was really curious about the fire, but knew she couldn’t get to it so she seemed content to watch her Dad build it from a distance. The furnace in the yurt didn’t get hot enough to cause any burns, so we didn’t worry about that.

We also made sure to keep the bathroom door closed (which is a good idea anyways, so that there’s less of the yurt to heat).

We were SURE we were going to have to drag our daughter away from the ladder to the loft the whole time we were there. But she actually didn’t pay it too much mind, and we kept an eye on her the whole time. If you have a dedicated climber though, it would be worth blocking this off so that they can’t get too high!

On our last morning! “Nooo don’t make me leave!”

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed our stay at Kenauk Nature and can honestly say that theirs is the nicest yurt we’ve ever stayed in! The little things like electricity, an indoor washroom, and slippers to help keep us warm were fantastic touches.

With how accessible the yurt is during winter, Kenauk Nature provides the perfect opportunity to try out winter “glamping,” even for someone brand new to the experience.

With so much to explore at Kenauk Nature, we’ll definitely be heading back again!

You really get to feel like you’re getting away from it all at Kenauk Nature.

P.s. when I say that Kenauk Nature hosted us, I mean that they generously allowed us to stay with them for free. But rest assured, everything I’ve mentioned in this post is my honest opinion, alongside tips we figured out from staying there. As always, I hope this trip report has enough info to get you there too. Let me know in the comments, or share and tag a friend to start planning your next adventure!

Gear We Brought…

There was so much provided in the yurt at Kenauk Nature that we brought a lot less than we normally would for a winter camping/glamping trip! But we still managed to bring a lot…

For Getting to the Yurt

  • High Sierra 55 Litre Backpack
  • MEC Shuttlecraft Kid Carrier
  • MEC Shuttlecraft Rain Cover
  • Mountain Warehouse 30L Backpack (for transport but also hiking later)
  • 4 x Bungee Cords (to strap things onto the sled)
  • Pelican Multi-Purpose Sled (although Kenauk Nature does provide them)
  • Base Layers
  • Wool Socks
  • Winter Boots
  • Buffs
  • Snow Pants and Winter Coats
  • MSR Evo Snowshoes
  • Hiking Poles
  • Plastic Storage Bin (for transporting our daughter’s things)
  • Winter Clothing for Baby: PikaLayers, Snowsuit, Hat, Mittens, and Boots.
  • Dog’s Leash and Winter Coat
  • Cooler (with food and snacks!)
  • Headlamps

For Hanging Out at the Yurt

  • Sheets
  • Three Season Sleeping Bag (that unzips to a blanket)
  • MEC Camp Pillows
  • Coleman Rechargeable Lantern
  • Cell Phones
  • Charging Cords (for charging white noise or cell phones)
  • Books
  • Cards
  • Toiletries (including baby’s toothbrush)
  • First Aid Kit
  • Compost Bag
  • Fire Starting Kit (just in case!)
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Change of Clothing
  • Dog Bed
  • Dog Food + Water Bowl

For Our Daughter

What We Ate (And Drank!)

  • Breakfast:
    Pancakes with butter, syrup, and fruit
  • Lunch:
    Tuna sandwiches with tomato on the side
  • Dinner:
    Beef stew with buns
    Butter chicken, rice and broccoli
  • Snacks
  • Wine
  • Beer
  • Coffee (and cream)
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