An 80-acre off-grid glamping retreat in McGill, Nevada, offering solar-powered bell tents, yurts, and tiny homes under some of the darkest night skies in North America.
Schellraiser is an 80-acre off-grid private campground in eastern Nevada's Steptoe Valley, sitting just outside the historic copper-mining town of McGill. Founded by local resident Rudy Herndon in tandem with the boutique Schellraiser music festival, this remote high-desert outpost provides a highly curated, eco-conscious base camp for travelers exploring the Great Basin. The property is designed around low-impact sustainability, powered by the largest private solar array in the surrounding area, which feeds a robust battery storage system to keep the lights on long after the sun sinks behind the Egan Range. To reach the campground, visitors must navigate an eight-tenths of a mile stretch of rocky, unpaved dirt road off U.S. Highway 93. This access road is susceptible to seasonal flooding from April through mid-July in wet years, meaning drivers with low-clearance vehicles, such as Teslas or Audis, are strongly advised to seek alternative lodging.
Accommodations at the campground range from primitive tent pitches to highly stylized, comfortable glamping structures. The signature Lotus Belle-brand bell tents, split into thirteen-foot and sixteen-foot layouts known as Thirteeners and Sixteeners, are fully furnished and solar-powered. Inside, guests find queen-size acacia platform beds topped with organic Avocado-brand mattresses and bright Marimekko bedding, alongside Afghan and Pakistani rugs, jute mats, loveseats, charging ports, and mango-wood floor lamps. For shoulder-season travelers facing chilly high-desert nights, the Cocoon bell tents feature extra-thick insulated liners. Those seeking solid walls can book Fort Lulu, a tiny, 160-square-foot A-frame cabin featuring Moroccan cement tile flooring, a queen bed, and original artwork by painter Steve Keene. The property also features two solar-powered shipping container homes with private rooftop decks, the larger of the two having been converted into a communal clubhouse equipped with a small kitchen, a propane cooktop, a microwave, and a refrigerator.
Shared amenities at Schellraiser prioritize comfort without compromising the off-grid ethos of the valley. A heated six-stall restroom and shower trailer sits near the main entrance, providing hot water for washing up after a day of hiking. On weekends, the campground hosts a coffee bar serving hot and cold espresso drinks, organic teas, and organic chocolate bars. Guests can gather at the communal clubhouse, which is open from Thursday through Sunday nights, or wind down under some of the darkest, most star-dense skies in North America, completely free from urban light pollution. While the annual music festival that shared its name eventually outgrew the site and relocated, the permanent campground continues to operate year-round, offering a quiet, deliberate sanctuary positioned between the High Schells wilderness and the natural, warm spring-fed waters of the McGill Pool.
Pack warm layers even in mid-summer, as high-desert temperatures plummet quickly after sunset. Be sure to drive a high-clearance vehicle, as the eight-tenths of a mile dirt access road off Highway 93 is rocky and prone to spring flooding. Stop in nearby Ely to stock up on groceries before checking in, and take advantage of the communal clubhouse kitchen from Thursday through Sunday nights.
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