Wild Driftless
Adventure Race
RACE DAY:
October 3, 2026
Elkader, IOWA
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE in Northeast Iowa:
WILD DRIFTLESS
(9 Hour AR)
- Trekking (on foot) 5-13 miles (8-22 km)
- Biking (gravel roads, paved roads, and trails) 20-34 miles (32-55 km)
- Paddling (canoes in flat-water and/or rivers/streams) 2-8 miles (3-13 km)
- Special tasks
REGISTRATION COSTS:
$115 by July 31
$130 by August 31
$140 by September 26
USARA membership required (single race for $8 or yearly for $35), available at link.
WILD DRIFTLESS LITE
(4-5 Hour AR)
- Trekking (on foot) 2-6 miles (3-10 km)
- Biking (gravel roads, paved roads, and trails) 10-15 miles (16-25 km)
- Special tasks
- No paddling
REGISTRATION COSTS:
$80 by July 31
$95 by August 31
$105 by September 26
USARA membership required (single race for $8 or yearly for $35), available at link.
Costs are per participant. Add $20 to all costs for soloists.
For 2025,
each race is
open to ONLY 125 participants.
Don't miss out!
2025 Host:
The 2026 Wild Driftless Adventure Race will be hosted in Elkader, Iowa at the Elkader City Park
Elkader City Park
707 S High St
Elkader, IA 52043
Race Information
Soaring limestone bluffs, crystal-clear trout streams and fast-moving rivers, old-growth forests, single-track mountain biking, and some of the most scenic gravel roads you’ll find anywhere in the world.
This isn’t just the Iowa cornfields you expect—this is the Driftless Region!
The Wild Driftless Adventure Race will take you into some of the most scenic areas of NE Iowa, featuring trekking, biking, and paddling for teams of 2-4 or soloists. The course is designed for all ability levels with an eye toward serving as a fantastic entry-level event for first-timers AND challenging the most seasoned adventure racers.
Follow along on Facebook
Look for more information on upcoming navigation and AR skills clinics, side events, and more.
Wild Driftless AR featured on "The Dark Zone" podcast
Click here to hear Episode 128 featuring Frank Johnson, race director for Wild Driftless. A longtime racer turned first-time race director, Frank is stepping up to give something back to the sport he loves. On this episode of "The Dark Zone," host Brian Gatens talks with Frank about what it means to start something new, why smaller races matter, and how community fuels everything.
Support Our Sponsors!
Lead Sponsor
Outfitter in Waverly, Iowa
- Gear
- Rentals
- Trips
- Classes
- Custom Adventures & more!!
Event Host
Strawberry Point, Iowa
- Retreat rentals
- Day rental space
- Summer camp
