Yellow River State Forest (Iowa) Beginner/Intermediate trip

Status: RSVPs open 9/5/25 at noon

Trip Summary:
Mileage: Moderate
Terrain/conditions: Moderate
Duration: 14 miles
Location Details / Map : Harpers Ferry, Iowa

Requirements:
This is a trip for experienced backpackers, or beginners in good physical shape and in possession of decent backpacking gear. If you have not completed an overnight trip with our meetup, direct message the organizer to introduce yourself. Review the club guidelines posted here. https://www.meetup.com/Chicago-Backpackers/

Meetup messaging is unreliable, and we use email for pre-trip communications. You will be asked to enter your email when you RSVP. Respond to organizer emails in a timely manner or risk forfeiting your spot on the trip. Participation is at the discretion of the organizer. DO NOT RSVP UNLESS YOU FULLY INTEND TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE ARRANGED FOR TIME OFF FROM WORK ETC. Cancellations and non-responders require the organizers to take additional time to contact and find participants to fill the spots.

About the Trip

This backpack will be a moderate to vigorous hike through a hilly trail area in eastern Iowa, two-hours west of Madison WI. The Paint Creek Backpacking loop is about 14 miles and will be conducted over two days. Trail map: https://www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/forests/maps/yellowriver-backpack.pdf

The trail will be mostly comprised of packed dirt and rock, with several stretches on gravel road to complete the loop. There are four significant hills, varying from 200-feet to 400-feet of elevation change, that backpackers will need to traverse. While the breaks will be called for throughout the day, participants will need to be in good
physical shape so that the group can stay together and have a positive experience. Given the lengthy drive back on Sunday, the mileage will be frontloaded so that most occurs on Saturday, with less on Sunday. A side trip to nearby Effigy Mounds National Monument can be easily done on the way there or back.

Gear: this outing will be a self-contained trip, meaning each participant shall provide their own backpacking gear, food, etc as though this was a solo trip. Participants are encouraged to bring this own stove, fuel, and water filter, but organizers will share theirs with participants who do not have these items.

Itinerary

Friday evening:
Meet at Big Paint Campground for an overnight car camp. Dinner on your own prior to arrival.

Saturday:
6:30-7:30: Breakfast
7:30-8:00: Break camp.
8:00-8:15: Move cars to designated parking lot nearby.
8:15-8:30: Trail briefing and review backpacking etiquette and LEAVE NO TRACE principles.
8:30-2:00: Hike the Paint Creek Unit Backpacking Trail clockwise for approximately 10 miles to Brown’s Hollow Camp, including breaks.
2:00: Make camp, filter water, gather firewood, eat dinner, and share camaraderie.

Sunday:
6:30-7:30: Breakfast
7:30-8:00: Break camp.
8:00-10:30: On the trail, hike approximately 4 miles to trailhead near Big Paint Campground, including breaks.
10:30: Return home.

Transportation:
Trip organizers do not arrange carpools but we do encourage carpooling. If you want to offer or solicit a ride, use the Comments section for the trip. Confirm your travel arrangements before you RSVP for the trip. Each car should make its own gas reimbursement arrangements.

Costs:
Camping fees for the trip will be divided evenly among the participants and collected by organizers. Approximately $5-15/person.

Acknowledgement:
As a member of the Chicago Backpackers Group, by registering (RSVPing) for this event, you accept that Hiking & Backpacking can be a dangerous sport and fully assume all risks associated with such participation, including travel to and from the event. You agree to be responsible for your own safety and equipment. You realize that conditions, obstacles, and weather are always changing, and your personal safety cannot be guaranteed. You understand the Meetup.com Terms of Service agreement which you signed when you joined Meetup (link below) and accept that participation is at your own risk. You agree to communicate with event organizers to plan for the trip and sign the Release of Liability provided by the organizers prior to participation.

Click here to review the Meetup.com Terms of Service.
(https://www.meetup.com/terms/)

Click here to review the club standard Release of Liability form. This link takes you to the read-only form. Once you RSVP a trip organizer will share the form and request electronic signature, which is required to confirm participation on our trips.

[INSERT LINK TO READ ONLY FORM HERE]

Erik Sander, Melvin Harris, and Kevin Fishbein