RV rental Yellow River State Forest, IA:
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To the northeast of Iowa lies the Yellow River State Forest, one of the state’s largest forests, covering over 8,500-acres of land. Rocky outcrops, bluffs, and steep slopes characterize the forest that you get to explore on your motorhome camping trip. While the forest is massive, outdoor recreation is limited to the Paint Creek Unit of the forest, covering 5000-acres. Being close to the cities of Waukon and Lansing, it’s a good idea to book an RV in Allamakee County so that you are able to explore the forest and its surrounding areas.

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Getting Outdoors

When you go RV camping at Yellow River State Forest, there are numerous recreational activities for you to enjoy. Hikers will love the trails in this forest. With a total of forty-five miles worth of trails to explore, ranging from easy to moderate to difficult, hikers enjoy every bit of their hiking experience. While the trail system is one of the most rugged in the state, the trails are well worn and easy to follow. Some of the trails are open to mountain bikers and equestrians, while about ten miles of trails are exclusively dedicated to hiking by foot only. The Paint Creek Trail is an easy, wide, multi-use trail covering 2.3 miles and crossing important areas in the park. Try the Forester Trail for a rugged hike, or the Heffern’s Hill Loop, which is perfect for endurance building. Don’t forget to explore the scenic overlooks on your hikes. For those of you who enjoy birding, your hikes will offer the perfect opportunity to check out rare bird species.

Camping at Yellow River State Forest

Camping with an RV at the Yellow River State Forest is easy and convenient. There are four campgrounds to choose from, with each offering a different set of amenities. The 45 miles of trails that go through the forest connect all four campgrounds. While all the campgrounds are non-modern with no electric service, the Little Paint Campground is most suitable to RV camping at Yellow River State Forest. It has eighty sites with big rig access, pull-thru sites, tent camping, and a water spigot. Vault washrooms are available at all the campgrounds, along with drinking water. The other campgrounds are Big Paint Campground, Creekside Equestrian Campground, and Frontier Equestrian Campground. There is a single cabin available for rent and comes equipped with electricity, a microwave, and a fridge.

Exploring the Area

Renting an RV is one of the best ways to explore the forest and its surrounding areas. After your camping trip, consider exploring the different areas of Allamakee County since it has so much to offer. Whether it’s arts or culture, history, sport, food, or shopping, there is something for everyone in this county. Check out the downtown murals of Decorah or the beautifully renovated opera house in Elkader; don’t miss the Bily Clock Museum in Spillville. Galleries and antique shops line the downtown area of McGregor that are known for their quaintness.

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Popular nearby hiking trails and campgrounds

  • Hiking TrailLocation
  • White Pine and Forester Loop Trail, IAYellow River State Forest, IA
  • Larkin Valley and Paint Creek Loop Trail, IAYellow River State Forest, IA
  • Saddle Trail to Tower, IAYellow River State Forest, IA
  • Helens Hill Loop, IAYellow River State Forest, IA
  • Yellow River Paint Creek Loop Trail, IAYellow River State Forest, IA
  • Effigy Mounds Eagle Rock Trail, IAEffigy Mounds National Monument, IA
  • Bridal Veil Trail, IAPikes Peak State Park, IA
  • Hickory Trail, IAPikes Peak State Park, IA
  • Weeping Rock and Hickory Ridge Loop Trail, IAPikes Peak State Park, IA
  • Sentinel Ridge Trail , WIWyalusing State Park, WI

Recent RV rental reviews in Yellow River State Forest

Peter K.

February, 2025

We were happy with the camper we rented. Our host Preston Goodman was very accommodating. We were down in Florida and had an issue with the hot water heater. We contacted Preston and the next day he had a mobile repair service come to the campground we were staying at to take care of the problem. I highly recommend Preston.
Ryan V.

October, 2024

Wonderful experience from start to end!
Janice M.

September, 2024

This trailer was great for our holiday trip to Wisconsin. Hailey was fast with responses & answered all my questions. She was super helpful and very flexible with time of delivery & pickup. The weather was great this past week except for our last night there. Heater does work, however it kept making the fire alarm go off. After speaking with Hailey about it, it's brand new and needs to be on for a while before being properly used. (We where like renter #4 or so) so I completely understood. Wish we took more pictures this was great for our first time renting a trailer & Hailey made it easy to follow along and communicated great!

Frequently asked questions about renting an RV near Yellow River State Forest

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