STAY WITH US AT CAMP EWALU!

Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center served as the 2025 race host for Wild Driftless, and is located about 25 minutes southwest of Elkader, the 2026 race location. 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!


Looking for lodging in and around Elkader? CLICK HERE to see a list of campgrounds, cabins and B&B's. There are also a variety of AirBnB and VRBO listings in the area.


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, about 25 minutes southwest of Elkader. For those seeking more options closer to Elkader, click here to see a list of campgrounds, cabins and B&B's. There are also 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.

Camp Ewalu INFORMATION

The 2025 Wild Driftless Adventure Race was hosted at Camp Ewalu. For 2026, Camp Ewalu is located about 25 minutes southwest of the race start in Elkader, and has some cabins available for race-day lodging.


Ewalu Camp and Retreat Center

37776 Alpha Ave.

Strawberry Point, Iowa 52076


Please CLICK HERE to see a list of Elkader area lodging options.

EWALU LODGING

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.

Support Our Sponsors!

CrawDaddy Outdoors logo

Lead Sponsor

Outfitter in Waverly, Iowa

  • Gear
  • Rentals
  • Trips
  • Classes
  • Custom Adventures & more!!

This race supports
Camp Ewalu

Just west of Strawberry Point, Iowa

  • Retreat rentals
  • Day rental space
  • Summer camp

Many sponsors and partners make this event possible


Join us in thanking the following businesses and organizations for their support: