4.59122 reviewsPrice
$6 - $12/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
79 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$6 - $12/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
79 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Learn more about alerts →Yellow River State Forest
729 State Forest Road, Harpers Ferry, Iowa, 52146, United States
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Hikers, backpackers, and trout anglers who can go fully off-grid will get the most out of this place. Fall is the standout season, with cool temps and hardwood color on the bluff-top overlooks. Horse campers with big rigs fit at Creekside and Frontier, which handle setups up to 1
No showers, no electric hookups, no cell service, and water only at a central tap near Big Paint mean this isn't comfortable camping for everyone. Generators reportedly run past 11 PM in primitive areas, and Memorial Day weekend crowds kill the solitude the rest of the year deliv
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 58% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 95 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.
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Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
Yellow River State Forest appears in our curated guides. Explore more top-rated campgrounds for the same activities and regions.
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Fall offers the most striking scenery and the most comfortable weather. Expect crisp days in the 45–65°F range and cool nights, perfect for hiking, biking, and photography among peak hardwood color from mid-September through October. Trails are drier and bugs are minimal, so wildlife viewing and bluff-top vistas are at their best, while trout streams remain scenic for riverside walks. Weekend crowds increase in peak color weeks but remain manageable on weekday visits. Be aware of deer hunting activity in the fall. Winter brings dry, crystalline conditions suited to snow sports. Spring warms gradually with rain, and summer delivers long days but also higher humidity and insect pressure.
Fall foliage and comfortable temps highlighted as the best season for visits.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
Yellow River State Forest offers basic amenities suitable for primitive and equestrian campers. Visitors will find vault toilets at the campgrounds, and drinking water is available at the A-frame information center near Big Paint Campground, approximately four miles from Highway 76. The campgrounds include fire rings and picnic tables. There is no cell service or electricity, contributing to the off-grid experience.
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