Wild Driftless Adventure Race 2026 — Elkader, IA

Meet us in Elkader for the Wild Driftless on October 3, 2026! 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. 2 OPTIONS FOR TEAMS & SOLOISTS WILD DRIFTLESS 9-hour time limit Trekking (on foot) Biking (gravel roads, paved roads, and trails of all sorts) Paddling (canoes in flat-water and/or splashy rivers/streams) Special tasks WILD DRIFTLESS LITE 5-hour time limit Trekking (on foot) Biking (gravel roads, paved roads, and trails) Special tasks No paddling USARA Membership Required When registering, be sure to click the box at the bottom under "Clubs" for USARA. You can either purchase a single-day membership for $8 or a yearly membership for $35. If you are purchasing a single-event membership, on the "Select your members" page (with the waiver at the bottom) be sure to uncheck the "Start membership immediately" button and select the date of the race (October 3, 2026). USARA provides sanctioning for our event and secondary insurance for participants.