Yellow River TrailOctober 18th to 19th, 2025

backpacking the yellow river trail in the driftless area of iowa

Known for its unglaciated, hilly landscape, this remote counterclockwise backpacking loop in Iowa showcases rugged terrain with a route that crosses ravines, and climbs sandstone bluffs, while providing surrounding views.

This was a short backpacking trip where we hiked to a place called Browns Hollow: a grassy field pocketed by dense forest. The trail had three big hills, but overall it wasn't that difficult of a trail.