This off-grid tipi is as close to nature as you can get without compromising cozy comfort. We’re talking glamping at its finest: the most comfortable queen bed I honestly think I’ve ever slept on, heat, charging capabilities, a spacious deck, and access to a full kitchen, bathroom, and shower in a vintage Airstream trailer just few steps away.

Bonus: It’s GORGEOUS.

Read on to know everything there is about this glamping tipi rental on Crooked Finger Farms. Did I mention there are horses too?

Significance of the Tipi/Tepee/teepee

Tipis/tepees/teepees were an integral part of the nomadic Native American lifestyle–particularly those of the Great Plains region. Each tipi could sleep 30-40 people comfortably. (This one only sleeps two.)

Women owned the tipi and were in charge of the entire build, from making the covers and choosing the site to erecting the tipi and making the furnishings. The men were the decorators, often painting the buffalo hide with scenes from battles, hunting, or spiritual experiences.

Its circular shape and buffalo hide walls keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but it also plays into a much larger motif of Native American culture–the Plains Natives saw the circular nature as the cycles of the seasons, moon phases, and life cycles. It’s said that their circular organization is part of their larger belief system that explains the universe and how we fit into it. The floor of the tipi represents the earth, the walls the sky, and the poles the paths to the spirit world. (www.webpages.uidaho.edu)

Tipis are always set up so their doors face east towards the rising sun. In the morning, when you awake, you step out to greet the dawn. (https://www.lessonsofourland.org)

About Crooked Finger Farms

Crooked Finger Farms is a 67-acre oasis 1.5 hours southeast of Portland at the edge of Oregon's remote unknown. Three vacation rentals (sleeping a total of ten people) call this property home (the Bali House, the Guest House, and the Tipi), alongside five horses, a sweet dog, a few friendly cats, a couple of ponds (with frogs!), a tree farm, exclusive hiking trails, and more. It's a beautiful opportunity to unplug in solitude, whip out the book you've been meaning to read, embrace farm life, relax, and explore some of Oregon's famous waterfalls.

Click the links below for both Crooked Finger Farms rentals:

Getting There

It's a little tricky to find Crooked Finger Farms without cell service, but Kristin – who literally thought of everything – gave us detailed instructions that made finding her hidden driveway a breeze. We swung open the green gate to a welcoming road beneath blossoming trees.

Crooked Finger Farms Tipi Rental

Location: Scotts Mills, Oregon

Sleeps: 2

Pet Friendly: No

Price: $195/night on weekends. 10% discount on weekdays

Adults Only

Arrival

You’ll park your car at the gate to the pasture upon arrival and walk a couple of hundred feet down a grassy trail to your secluded tipi rental. There’s a convenient wagon that you can use to load up your gear and roll it down to the tipi with you.

NOTE: Do not bring any food into the tipi! There is a bug trap to prevent pests from entering the tipi, but deer and other animals are known to roam the property. Practice Leave No Trace principles and keep wildlife wild.

The Tipi

As soon as you round the barn’s corner, the 22’ tipi will come into view, snug against a curtain of trees with expansive views of the farm to the east. The long path builds excitement with every step.

The tipi rental is secured to a hand-built wooden deck–two Adirondack chairs separated by a farm-style table make the perfect place to chill any time of the day. Catch the sun or moon rising over the trees in the distance, or watch the farm glow a bright orange when the sun dips behind the tipi in the evening.

Pro tip: It pairs well with a glass of wine–speaking from experience ;)

Inside, I’ve never felt a more comfortable queen size bed. Decorated with a beautiful Pendleton wool blanket and pillows for days, once you lay down on that thing, you’re not getting back up. Plan accordingly.

To the right, an insulated water reservoir offers guests cold, fresh spring water and an ice chest is available if you brought additional drinks for the trip.

Plug the LED lights into the provided fully charged battery for a dreamy vibe. It’s also where you’ll be able to plug in your phones for an overnight charge.

If it gets chilly, flip on the heater to stay warm and toasty no matter the season.

Help yourself to the citronella candles and bug spray as needed. (There is a bug netting that surrounds the base of the tipi, but a nearby pond does attract mosquitos in warmer weather. If you head outside, you might want to give yourself a quick spray.)

The 2015 'Retro' Airstream

You know that Airstream trailer you passed on your way in? That’s your bathroom, shower, and a full kitchen and it’s hidden behind the “Upper Barn” with plenty of privacy from the other rentals.

We kicked off our shoes and walked in to find farm fresh eggs from the chickens across the pasture and some tasty local honey. YUM.

There’s also coffee, tea, spices, and headlamps that hang on the hooks by the door to make that walk to the Tipi Rental and back a little more comfortable in the dark–Kristin truly thinks of everything!

Once settled, we whipped up a quick lunch to enjoy on the picnic table outside while watching the horses frolic in their pasture a couple of feet away.

If Kristin’s around, ask her for an introduction! She’ll let you know which horses love the pets. And if you’re lucky, you might be able to bring one out to play.

Mr. Pickles is the biggest sweetheart. This pony loves attention. What a freaking cutie, am I right?

ACTIVITIES

Have a Staycation It's easy to spend all of your time at Crooked Finger. Hanging with Maggie, Luna, Mr. Pickles, Phillip, and Cooper (Kristin's horses) was one of my favorite things to do. Ask Kristin about the miles of exclusive trails through the wilderness just behind her property (keep an eye out for bears and elk!), walk the tree farm, read a book by the pond, harvest eggs, or play a round of horseshoes or a game of badminton. Kristin has a collection of exciting outdoor games to enjoy in her wide open spaces. All you have to do is ask.

Chase Waterfalls Dubbed the "crown jewel" of Oregon, Silver Falls State Park (and the Trail of Ten Falls) sees travelers from around the world (and for good reason). A 7.2-mile loop guides hikers through rocky canyons and behind a 177-foot waterfall with access to nine more majestic falls (hence the name) with a total elevation gain of just 800 feet. It's a must-experience activity for every PNW outdoors enthusiast and has been on my wanderlist for years. BONUS: It's only a 25-minute drive from the Bali House.

Abiqua Falls, with its mind-boggling basalt columns, is another favorite just an 18-minute drive away. Hikers with 4WD and high clearance can drive the full length of the sketchy dirt road to the trailhead, which leaves a short 15-20-minute hike (rated "difficult") to the falls. If you give the road a go but reach a ditch that looks a little too deep for your vehicle, don't worry! There are pullouts the whole way down for just that reason. Park on the side of the road and hike the rest of the way. The first section is a steep and muddy scramble down to the river – ropes are strung tree-to-tree for added assistance. Before you know it, Abiqua emerges from behind a rock outcropping. Would you believe that it's even better in person?

Discover the Garden City Silverton is a quaint riverside town with old-school architecture and plenty of charm to go around. Get your Italian fix at Guerras, or I’ve heard great things about Magnolia Grill and their full wine bar too! If you’re looking to do a little wine tasting, head to the town of Aurora for Pheasant Run Winery.

Unique Stay: Glamp in a Gorgeous Tipi Rental Outside of Silverton Oregon