Get Back To Nature At Backland, An Arizona Glamping Resort Near The Grand Canyon
By Melissa Mahoney|Published November 03, 2023
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
I’ve lived in Arizona since 2009 and have a busy life with two kids. I am always up for an adventure and the state of Arizona is an amazing place to find one. Recently, I became obsessed with the idea of glamping and found the perfect spot in Williams.
More akin to a high-end hotel than a camping resort close to the Grand Canyon, Backland is an exceptional destination for a getaway. Its remote location offers ultimate tranquility and the ability to unplug and disconnect from reality for a while.
Close to the Grand Canyon in the town of Williams, to get here is not all that obvious. In fact, it’s so off the grid that entering “Backland” into your GPS will not actually lead you there. To add to both the allure and mystique of this luxury glamping resort, I received an email several days prior to my stay with instructions to download a specific app, enter a code, and then the directions to find it would be provided. This also makes it seem like quite an exclusive place, even a privilege, to spend the night.
Once my partner and I arrived at the awe-inspiring property, it was like discovering an oasis in the middle of nowhere. We were transfixed. From the moment we started our journey to the moment we left, we realized it had been a long time since either of us felt that relaxed.
Welcome back to nature – welcome to Backland!
The road to get there is dirt and gravel and quite bumpy in some areas, but that’s all part of the adventure, right? Along the way, we even saw herds of cows just hanging out in the fields staring at us as we drove by.
We were greeted by a very friendly worker along with a dog from a nearby ranch who almost serves as a mascot to Backland, despite not actually living on the property. However, this dog loves spending time on the property and we certainly found out why during our stay.
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Check-in was easy and quick. The person checking us in gave us a 4-digit code for Tent #2 where we would be spending the night. I verified our 6 p.m. dinner reservations with him as well and he gave us some information about the property like what was included, where to hike, etc.
The Backland property has a total of 10 tents, each one with a 75-foot separation from the next in order for guests to experience as much privacy as possible. What we couldn't get over was how quiet it was, too!
Getting into our tent was seamless. We parked the car in the small driveway right in front of it, entered the code into the key lock, and headed inside.
With its tall ceiling with a skylight to watch the stars at night, our tent was roomy. And like all of the other tents, it included a king-sized bed, an ensuite bathroom complete with a shower, eco-friendly toiletries, luxury linens, a coffee maker, a small fridge...
...and, best of all, panoramic windows and a porch with views of the stunning landscape. We could see miles around including fields, forest, and mountains.
Sitting outside and noticing how quiet it was happened to be just the thing we needed. The only sounds we could hear was our own breathing, birds in the distance, and the occasional insect flying by.
After relaxing at our luxurious tent for a while, we decided to explore the vast property which has its very own pond. Kayaks are available for guests to use and, of course, we had to do that!
While the pond is quite shallow, it was wonderfully relaxing to go for a paddle. We were able to hear the sounds of frogs and see the variety of birds that call Backland home.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Jones
We also explored the property on foot. After walking past the reception building, we found a hiking trail that led through a tree tunnel to this historic and charming log cabin.
On the menu is a variety of drinks including beer, wine, and cocktails. We ordered a few dishes to share -- the hummus board, a spinach salad with strawberries, nuts, and feta, and chicken piccata. The portions were large enough for the two of us to share and everything was fresh and delicious! We were absolutely impressed by Backland's on-site restaurant.
After dinner, we spent time playing chess in the lounge area by the fireplace. Aside from chess, there's a wide selection of family-friendly games to play.
Another great perk of staying at Backland is that a continental breakfast is provided. Between the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., guests can enjoy a yogurt bar, an oatmeal bar, a crepe bar, fresh fruit, pastries, muffins, cereal, toast, hard-boiled eggs, juice, milk, tea, and coffee. It's quite deluxe!
The day before, we had also placed an order for boxed lunches which include a sandwich, a side, and a snack. We were handed our lunches upon checkout to enjoy on the road.
Another thing to note is if you have an electric car, there are two charging stations. It's incredibly helpful to be able to charge your EV before heading back home.
It was a bittersweet feeling to leave Backland. It had been a long time since either one of us felt such peace and enjoyed such quiet. But one thing we know for sure is that we will be back to Backland one day, and hopefully soon!
Backland is the brainchild of Jeremy Budge who opened the glamping resort in the fall of 2022. When I asked him how he came up with the idea of Backland, he wrote, "I have had some version of the idea for Backland brewing in my mind since I was in college around 2008. In fact, for my final project in a real estate development class, I submitted a project for a luxury camping resort, and that was before anyone, including me, had really heard of the idea of glamping. Later around 2015 the opportunity came up to join an early-stage glamping company and I jumped on it, spending the next 5 years developing resorts all over the country. While I loved what I was doing I realized there were some aspects of the standard glamping model I thought could be improved upon. Backland is the culmination of years of dreaming combined with real-life learnings from working in the industry." After staying here, I believe what he achieved at Backland is quite special!
Did you know that Backland can host small weddings? If you or someone you know is looking for a one-of-a-kind wedding destination, consider Backland in Williams!
For those of you looking for a camping resort near the Grand Canyon, Backland is an exceptional place to be. Quiet and serene, not to mention absolutely comfortable, there’s no other place in the state quite like it. Rediscover some inner peace with a stay here. You can book a night or longer on the Backland Luxury Camping website and be sure to follow the Backland Facebook page as well as Backland’s Instagram account.
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