Wild Driftless Adventure Race
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Event overview
The Wild Driftless Adventure Race is an adventure race held in northeast Iowa in October. The event takes teams and solo participants into the Driftless Region, featuring limestone bluffs, trout streams, rivers, old-growth forests, single-track mountain biking, and scenic gravel roads. The 2025 host site is Camp Ewalu (Ewalu Camp and Retreat Center) near Strawberry Point, Iowa. The event offers trekking, biking and paddling segments plus special tasks and an optional ropes section. Teams of 2-4 or soloists may enter.
Race options, distances and entry
There are two race options with different durations and course elements.
Wild Driftless (longer format)
- Trekking: 5–13 miles (8–22 km)
- Biking: 20–34 miles (32–55 km)
- Paddling (canoes, flat-water and gentle rivers/streams): 2–8 miles (3–13 km)
- Special tasks and optional ropes section
Wild Driftless Lite (shorter format)
- Trekking: 2–6 miles (3–10 km)
- Biking: 10–15 miles (16–25 km)
- No paddling; includes special tasks and optional ropes section
USARA membership is required (single-event or annual). For 2025 each race was limited to 125 participants. Costs and registration tiers vary by date and were published for the 2025 event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.