How the Wild Driftless Adventure Race is Navigating its Way to Decorah

Know what's happening in your hometown. Help us keep you informed. DECORAH — For extreme endurance athletes, an ideal race landscape requires three essential elements: challenging off-trail terrain, mountain bike singletrack and dynamic waterways. For years, the founders of the Wild Driftless Adventure Race have kept one destination at the top of their wish list. Now, it's official. After launching at Camp Ewalu in 2025 and moving to Elkader in 2026, the USA Adventure Racing Association-sanctioned multisport event is headed to Decorah on October 2, 2027, bringing hundreds of athletes to tackle the area's limestone bluffs, extensive trail systems and Upper Iowa River. The Wild Driftless Adventure Race grew out of conversations between Frank Johnson and Jamie Borglum, owner of Crawdaddy Outdoors in Waverly. While both men share a passion for adventure racing, their preferences fall on opposite ends of the endurance spectrum. Borglum thrives on grueling, weeklong expedition races that have taken him as far as Brazil's Malacara Expedition Race, while Johnson favors the intensity of single-day events, a passion sparked while competing in Manitoba's Swamp Donkey Adventure Race. Johnson also brought experience in race logistics, having previously directed northwest Minnesota's Lake Bronson Adventure Race for five years. Their combined expertise led to the inaugural Wild Driftless Adventure Race in 2025 at Camp Ewalu near Strawberry Point, a summer camp and retreat center where Johnson serves as executive director. Giving back has been central to the event since its inception. The inaugural race served as a fundraiser for Camp Ewalu, and organizers continue to partner annually with regional environmental and youth organizations. Past beneficiaries include Friends of Backbone Lake in 2025, followed by Clayton County Conservation and Starmont Cross Country in 2026. By 2026, the Wild Driftless had grown into a national draw, attracting 320 participants from across the country. While just more than half of the field came from Iowa, the rugged terrain also attracted athletes from coast to coast. The event features two formats. The nine-hour course, a popular option, challenges racers with biking, trekking and paddling. The five-hour course offers a shorter competition focused on biking and trekking. Both formats follow traditional adventure racing rules. Competitors face a secret course revealed only on race morning, requiring teams of two to four, as well as solo participants, to navigate using only a map and compass. With marked trails prohibited and GPS devices banned, success depends on more than speed. Racers must strategically locate as many optional checkpoints as possible before time runs out. When scouting potential host locations, the founders look for three key features: challenging trekking terrain, mountain biking opportunities and paddling conditions that test competitors' physical endurance and navigation skills. "We want to get racers off-trail in interesting places to navigate, and we also want beautiful and surprising features that make off-trail navigation interesting," Johnson said. To connect those areas, Johnson said singletrack mountain bike trails are ideal, although organizers also use paved paths and gravel roads when necessary. "We'll ride anything that is low-traffic, but the perfect location is one that has some big highlights—and we don't shy away from big hills," Johnson said. "The best courses will have interesting paddle sections as well, which could take many different forms, but we need good water." Decorah offers all three elements. The move also serves as a homecoming of sorts for Johnson, who has local connections through Camp Ewalu's network of supporting churches and families in the Decorah area. Planning to bring the race to Decorah began in August 2024, when Johnson first contacted city officials. For Decorah Parks and Recreation Director Marc Holtey, hosting the event was a natural fit. Decorah offers 644 acres of parkland, 23 recreational areas, more than 25 miles of singletrack trails, the 11-mile Trout Run Trail and access to rural gravel roads. The Upper Iowa River provides opportunities for paddling, while the area's interconnected public parkland creates possibilities for challenging off-trail trekking stages. Even if autumn water levels are low, experienced adventure racers are accustomed to occasional scraping and portaging. Because Decorah regularly hosts multisport events using its streets, rivers and parks, local departments and volunteer networks also have experience coordinating race-day logistics. Although Johnson is keeping specific course details under wraps to preserve the element of surprise, he identified several advantages Decorah offers. "The single-track trail system is a huge draw," Johnson said. "The variety of types of single-track is huge, because we need to design a course for strong adventure racers and newbies—and we expect to have plenty of both! The newer trails being built in Decorah are a massive asset for a race like this." Another advantage is the Trout Run Trail, which allows organizers to connect park systems while limiting the need for cyclists to use city streets. "The ability to connect park systems without utilizing paved roads in town is amazing," Johnson said. "One of our biggest safety concerns doing a race like this on an open course is cars. In Decorah, we can basically eliminate the need to bike on paved roads in town, which is fantastic." Partnerships are already in place with the city of Decorah, Decorah Parks and Recreation, the Park Board of Commissioners, Visit Decorah and Decorah Human Powered Trails. Johnson is working with Holtey's team to identify canoe staging areas, establish a central race headquarters and coordinate camping and lodging accommodations at locations such as Pulpit Rock Campground. Organizers are also considering other major community events, including Luther College's homecoming, as they develop the October 2027 race schedule. The long-term goal is to build a broader network of collaborators, potentially including Luther College, Inspire(d) Media, Oneota River Cycles and local churches, while creating sponsorship opportunities for area businesses. "Because the race draws hundreds of racers and their families, the ultimate goal goes beyond sport," Johnson said. "We want visitors to experience the local trails, explore the business district, and entirely fall in love with Decorah." Although the final course boundaries will remain a secret until race day, organizers hope the event will showcase the Driftless Area's distinctive landscape. "We want people to have many, many 'Wow!' moments," Johnson said. "Whether it is flying down a mountain bike trail, coming out to a beautiful view, or splashing in a waterfall." Your daily dose of local news, delivered. Subscribe to our free newsletter.