Wild Driftless Adventure Race
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Event overview
The Wild Driftless Adventure Race is an adventure racing event in northeast Iowa centered on trekking, biking, and paddling with orienteering to reach checkpoints. The 2025 race is scheduled for early October and is hosted at Ewalu Camp and Retreat Center in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Teams of two to four or solo participants may enter. The course goes into varied terrain in the Driftless Region, including limestone bluffs, trout streams, rivers, old-growth forest, single-track mountain biking, and gravel roads. Mandatory gear and race rules are specified by the organizers.
Race formats and distances
There are two timed race options: a nine-hour event and a four-hour "Lite" event. Distances and activities listed for each include:
- Wild Driftless (9-hour): Trek 5-13 miles, Bike 20-34 miles, Paddle 2-8 miles
- Wild Driftless Lite (4-hour): Trek 2-6 miles, Bike 10-15 miles, No paddling
For 2025, each race was limited to 125 participants. USARA membership was required to compete. Registration fees varied by date and were higher for solo entrants. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.