Writing about Yellow River State Forest pains me due to the fact that anything I can say about it will only result in attracting more attention to this little-known Midwestern backpacking gem. Less than 4.5 hours from downtown Chicago, 3.5 hours from Des Moines, 2.5 hours from the Quad Cities, and only 2 hours from Madison, WI, the 25-mile backpack loop and connected trail system at Yellow River State Forest provide more than enough hiking for a long weekend.

Trail combinations can be made to create great trips for experienced hikers or for kids and beginners. The backpack trail* includes several steep segments, so it may not be appropriate for small children or people who are not ready for a challenge. Remote camping is in designated areas only, but the sites are large, dispersed areas so parties will not feel as though they are on top of each other.

Remote camping and parking are free, and most remote site are within a half mile of trailhead parking areas, making the almost complete absence of other backpackers on the trail mind-boggling. In addition to backpacking, fishing, car-camping, hunting, birding, cycling, and horseback riding are other activities I’ve seen going on in and around the state forest. A pdf trail map can be found here, and here’s where we parked to catch the beginning of the backpack trail. Click on photos for higher resolution.

My cousin Matt, and I arrived at the Backpack Trailhead on a rainy Saturday afternoon in early October. We were shocked at how empty the parking lot was Continue reading Backpacking Yellow River State Forest →