Set on ten acres near Twentynine Palms, 28 Palms Ranch offers authentic, handcrafted Mongolian yurts with private outdoor hot showers and a commitment to zero-footprint desert living.
28 Palms Ranch is an eco-yurt village situated on ten acres of desert land in Twentynine Palms, California, just four miles from the Indian Cove entrance of Joshua Tree National Park. Founded by owner Erin Stevenson, the property was designed as an off-grid sanctuary where guests can disconnect from digital distractions and immerse themselves in the quiet of the Mojave Desert. The accommodations consist of authentic Mongolian yurts, which were handcrafted by a Mongolian family under fair-trade principles. Constructed using traditional, sustainable materials like organic felt insulation and horsehair ropes, these circular dwellings provide a sturdy, weather-resistant shelter that remains comfortable throughout the desert's temperature swings.
Inside each yurt, the design honors both heritage and comfort. Guests sleep on a queen-size bed, supplemented by a CordaRoy's foam-filled convertible bean bag that can transform into an additional queen-sized bed to accommodate up to four people. An authentic Mongolian sink is installed inside the yurt for washing up, while the ceiling features a traditional toono, the central wooden ring and skylight that serves as a direct window to the overhead constellations. The interiors are purposefully kept simple and unplugged, illuminated only by solar lights and equipped with a single solar USB port, emphasizing a low-impact lifestyle that relies on the natural rhythm of the sun.
The ranch's commitment to sustainability is highlighted by its off-grid infrastructure. Lacking access to a municipal sewer system, Stevenson installed individual HomeBiogas units next to each yurt. These eco-friendly systems process organic waste from the flushing marine toilets and food scraps, converting them into clean biogas for cooking and a nutrient-rich biofertilizer used to cultivate native flora on the property. Directly outside each yurt, guests have access to their own private outdoor setup, which includes a private hot shower, a flushing marine toilet, a shaded picnic table, a private fire pit, and a barbecue grill with an outdoor sink. This clever setup ensures that the comforts of a hot shower and a flushing toilet do not compromise the property's zero-footprint philosophy.
Pack a cooler with ingredients to grill, as each yurt has its own private barbecue and fire pit. To stargaze comfortably from bed, unzip the cover of the yurt's central wooden toono skylight.
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