JOSEPH HIKING FIELD GUIDE
McCully Camp: Yurts and Fresh Tracks in the Heart of the Eagle Cap Wilderness
A small-group, backcountry ski stay in McCully Basin that pairs a 4-mile, 1,800-ft approach with a cozy yurt village, gourmet meals, and varied winter terrain—useful for planning logistics and what to expect.
McCully Camp: Yurts and Fresh Tracks in the Heart of the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
McCully Basin is a historic ski camp tucked into the Eagle Cap Wilderness where a compact yurt village, gourmet food, and winter solitude meet a wide spectrum of ski terrain. Operated by Wallowa Alpine Huts since the company’s origins here, McCully’s combination of a classic four-mile skin-in, accessible alpine bowls, gladed meadows and occasional steep chutes has drawn visitors for decades and defines the trip’s character.
Route Schematic
Route Schematic
Key stops and the flow from trailhead to base camp and out into the bowls.
Trailhead / Approach
A gentle 4-mile skin-in that gains roughly 1,800 feet, threading a thick forest and negotiating only two switchbacks before opening into the basin.
Entering McCully Basin
The basin opens to a variety of terrain—from low-angled gladed meadows to broad north-facing alpine bowls—setting the stage for a range of ski lines.
McCully Base Camp / Yurt Village
Base camp is a compact yurt setup: two separate sleeping yurts that sleep five and a kitchen yurt with additional cots; accommodations are outfitted with wood stoves, cots and foam pads.
Ski Routes & Return
From camp you can access non-technical summits, alpine bowls and steeper chutes; the simple guiding rule—follow the path of water—helps navigate back to camp.
The trip begins with a 4-mile skin gaining about 1,800 feet; participants should be prepared for that level of sustained uphill travel.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Eagle Cap Wilderness and McCully Basin
Set inside the Eagle Cap Wilderness, McCully Basin delivers solitude and open alpine bowls framed by non-technical summits—an environment that produces fresh tracks and expansive views after a forested approach.
A Small Yurt Village that Began It All
What began in 1980 as a modest ski camp has evolved into a compact yurt village where guests stay in two sleeping yurts and gather in a kitchen yurt; the operation’s long history and reputation for gourmet food are part of McCully’s draw.
Terrain for Every Backcountry Appetite
From low-angled, gladed meadows to broad north-facing bowls and pockets of steeper fall-line chutes, McCully’s terrain reads like a backcountry sampler—accessible from camp after the initial skin-in.
What the day feels like
What the trip feels like
The trip unfolds as a deliberate entry into winter wilderness: a gentle four-mile skin that climbs about 1,800 feet through heavy forest and two switchbacks, then opens into a basin of broad bowls and gladed slopes. Days are spent touring varied terrain and returning to warm yurts, wood stoves and communal meals—the rhythm of effort, exploration and repose.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this small-group ski trip suits—and who it doesn’t.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Trips operate in a backcountry ski environment that has evolved to use modern downhill touring equipment; come prepared with appropriate ski-touring gear.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where is the meeting point for McCully Camp trips?
Groups meet at Blythe Cricket, 700 N Main St, Joseph, OR 97846.
How long are the trips?
Weekend trips run 4 days and 3 nights; midweek trips run 5 days and 4 nights.
How many people are in a group?
The program is organized around groups of five.
What accommodations are provided at McCully?
Guest accommodations consist of two separate sleeping yurts that sleep five, outfitted with wood stoves, cots and foam pads; there is a kitchen yurt with additional cots.
How strenuous is the approach to camp?
The approach is approximately a 4-mile skin that gains about 1,800 feet through forest with only two switchbacks.
Is water available at camp?
Yes; McCully’s water source is Cold Spring.
How this guide was prepared
This field guide is synthesized using verified supplier specifications, route descriptions, and destination data. Some booking links may generate affiliate revenue for ADV Guides.
- Verified: 2026-08-21T03:32:17.031Z
Some booking links may generate revenue for ADV Guides or The Adventure Collective.
Availability, pricing, schedules and operating details can change.
Trip details and contextual sources were reviewed by ADV Guides Editorial.