STAY WITH US AT CAMP EWALU!

Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center will serve as the race host for Wild Driftless. We welcome you to this beautiful site, situated on the edge of Iowa's Driftless Region in Clayton County, full of trails and natural beauty for you to explore. 


Enjoy comfortable, modern amenities at Ewalu's heated cabins and lodges. Book your overnight accommodations at Ewalu before and after the race (details below), and have an incredible weekend enjoying all that Northeast Iowa has to offer!


At Ewalu's main site just 3 miles west of Strawberry Point, Iowa, you'll discover 2+ miles of the Maquoketa River on the Ewalu property, 12+ miles of private trails, and over 500 acres of beautiful footbridges, natural prairies, rock grottos and water features. Thousands of people of all ages people visit Ewalu annually for retreats, events and summer camp!


Look below for on-site lodging options for the race weekend.

LODGING OPTIONS FOR WILD DRIFTLESS PARTICIPANTS

Camp Ewalu offers a limited selection of on-site cabin and lodge accommodations (details below), along with numerous campground sites. For those seeking more options, hotels can be found in Oelwein and Manchester, both approximately 20 miles away, as well as a variety of AirBnb and VRBO listings in the vicinity.

Walnut Lodge

Four “hotel style” rooms upstairs each offer full bathrooms for comfort and privacy. Each room has two bunk beds (one twin-over-twin and one twin-over-double) to accommodate up to five people per room. A lower-level sports two bunk rooms, which each sleep 12, plus two modern dorm-style bathrooms, including shower facilities. You must bring your own bedding (or sleeping bag).


Wild Driftless teams may rent by the room:


  • Upstairs rooms are available for the weekend @ $150
  • Downstairs rooms are available for the weekend @ $75

Walnut Cabins

There are 3 recently renovated cabins, each with a sleeping capacity of 10. These cabins are nestled in the woods next to our base camp, providing for some privacy while offering a short walk to the Creation Center.

Each cabin contains a meeting space, kitchenette (with coffee pot, microwave, and sink), sleeping room, a covered porch, and bathrooms that include shower facilities. These cabins were built using environmentally friendly practices and use a geothermal heating system. You must bring your own bedding (or sleeping bag).


Wild Driftless teams may rent by the room:


  • Walnut Cabins are available for the weekend @ $175

Cherry Cabins

Rustic bunk houses a short walk from the Creation Center. These cabins can sleep up to 20, but they have no heat. The bathroom is located in the nearby Cherry Lodge, which includes a public meeting space. The lodge has a carpeted meeting room with a fireplace, kitchenette, restroom and shower facilities. You must bring your own bedding (or sleeping bag).


Wild Driftless teams may rent by the room:


  • Cherry Cabins are available for the weekend @ $40.

Hickory Heights Campground

Electric and non-electric sites are available, adjacent to a public bathroom. Roughly ¼-mile walk to the Creation Center.



  • Electric sites @ $40/night
  • Tent sites @ $20/night

Reflection Cabin

A beautiful, primitive cabin located amidst the pines, roughly ¼-mile walk to the Creation Center. Savor time in front of the wood stove or on the front deck reading, journaling, or just simply sitting in solitude. The Reflection Cabin is a place for you to get away.

 


NOTE: This cabin does not have water or electricity. Linens are provided and an outhouse is nearby.



  • Reflection Cabin is available for $20/night.

LEARN MORE & BOOK LODGING

Contact the Camp Ewalu office to learn more about any of the lodging options above and to book a cabin/lodge/room for the weekend.

HOST LOCATION INFORMATION

The 2025 Wild Driftless Adventure Race will be hosted at the Creation Center at Camp Ewalu:


Ewalu Camp and Retreat Center

37776 Alpha Ave.

Strawberry Point, Iowa 52076

LODGING DETAILS

Camp Ewalu is an outdoor ministry of the ELCA (Lutheran church), founded in 1961. Click here to learn more about Ewalu's mission and how the camp welcomes all people to experience this relaxing and beautiful “special place apart” in God’s kingdom.

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