Map showing campground location near Waterville, Iowa

Camper submitted image from Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

Sites at Big Paint Campground occupy an open field layout where campers can see across to neighboring spots, creating less privacy than heavily wooded alternatives. The 27 sites numbered 35 through 61 sit within Yellow River State Forest, offering electric, water, and sewer hookups at $12 per night. Most sites rest entirely on grass, though a few feature gravel parking pads that prove valuable during wet weather.

Mary S. describes site 35 as "like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site." The campground functions as a smaller counterpart to Little Paint Campground, which holds over 70 sites and tends to feel more crowded. Campers report the area stays relatively quiet, with vault toilets and trash disposal available on-site.

Direct river access draws many visitors, particularly anglers targeting stocked trout streams. Hiking trails connect from the campground, allowing loops of five miles or more through the forest. Fire Tower Cabin — Yellow River State Forest sits less than half a mile southeast for those seeking different accommodations. The forest includes equestrian trails and multiple lookout points, though hunting occurs in non-campground areas during season.

Water for drinking comes from the information center about 100 yards from the campground entrance. Cell service remains spotty throughout the area. Sites can be reserved online at least two days ahead, though seven remain first-come, first-served. The campground operates year-round, switching to first-come basis from November through March.

Campers wanting more secluded options can explore walk-in sites or consider Camp Glen Wendel Primitive Backcountry — Yellow River State Forest for a more primitive experience.

Check Availability Suggest an Edit

Warning 4 Alerts are In Effect

There are 4 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

If you are unable to reserve a cabin online because the reservation window has closed, you must call the park office at 563-586-2254 regarding cabin availability. All last minute cabin rentals must be a minimum of 2 nights, are handled by park staff and must be done prior to arriving at the park.

Effective, May 8 and 9, 2026, The Friends of YRSF, will be hosting their annual Trail Run Series. The trails will be used on May 8, from 5:00pm to 8:00 pm. On May 9, the trails will be used from 7:00am to 11:00am, and the 1/2 marathon will pass through Creekside Campground.

The Big Paint, Creekside, and Frontier campgrounds and campsites 93 - 118 in the Little Paint campground will be closed starting the Friday after Thanksgiving - March 31.

All four campgrounds are 100 percent reservable and accepts reservations April 1 - October 31 until 10 pm CST the day of arrival. Exception: Little Paint Campground sites 60 - 92 are open year round.

RV Road Trip Guides

Oregon Trail Road Trip

Independence to North Platte: 3 Day Road Trip

Build Your Trip

Plan a TripAdd

Location

Public Campground

Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest is located in Iowa

Directions

The entrance to Yellow River State Forest is located on Hwy 76. The forest is located 15 miles north of Marquette on Hwy. 76. The entrance will be on the right side of the road. This road is called State Forest Road or B25. If traveling from the north the entrance is located 10 miles south of Waukon on Hwy 76. The entrance of the forest from Waukon will be on the left. There is also an alternative entrance located west of Harpers Ferry approximately. 2 miles from town on county road X42, again look for State Forest Road or B25 on the left side of X42. DO NOT TAKE THE DONAHUE ROAD ENTRANCE THIS ROAD IS A LEVEL B ROAD.

Address

729 State Forest Road
Harpers Ferry, IA 52146

Coordinates

43.17361733567573 N
91.25229867222963 W

Open in Google Maps

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
AT&T
No Coverage

Is Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Presented by

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
AT&T
No Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Reservable
Electric Hookups
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
30 Amp Hookups
50 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Make reservation

Drive Time

1 hr 9 min from La Crosse, WI
1 hr 23 min from Dubuque, IA
1 hr 45 min from Rochester, MN
1 hr 47 min from Waterloo, IA

2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Enter to Win

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

A primitive campground featuring spacious, well-maintained sites in a scenic valley setting with hilly terrain and river access. Numerous guests pointed out the peaceful atmosphere and reasonable pricing, though some noted limited privacy due to the open layout.

Tamsyn K.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 3, 2025

Well maintained

Going in knowing that there were pit toilets and no potable water, I did not have high expectations for this campsite. I was pleasantly surprised to find it very well maintained with spacious sites.

Site39

Month of VisitJune

(5) View All

Stuart O.

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 13, 2024

Good late season option for the self-contained camper

Was very thankful to find a place to overnight in mid-November. Not a lot of free parking options in this part of Iowa. No water, electric, or dump station, so very much like a parking lot overnight from that perspective. However, the park is situated on the valley bottom of the Yellow River Forest with beautiful tall trees, and there are fire rings. Fee was $12. First come first served basis from November through March.

Site33

Month of VisitNovember

Tori L.

Scout

Reviewed May. 26, 2024

Dream stay.

Came to learn more about Tenkara fly fishing. Had a ball. Visited the 3 lookouts including Iowa only Fire tower. Bird life is colorful. Lots of places to hike. Scenery is lush. I had no phone service. Campsites are well mown, have a picnic table and fire ring. Pit toilets. Easy access to water. Drink water and firewood are at the host A frame. There is no dump site. Everyone was very friendly. Helpful. Nights were quiet. Very relaxing.

Site83

Month of VisitMay

James M.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 28, 2022

Nice smaller primitive CG along Big Paint

Sites are primitive with tables, fire rings/grates, pit toilets, self registration, ice/wood available across road at visitors station. Cell service is possible at times .

Month of VisitJuly

(10) View All

Daphne D.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 17, 2022

Busy but beautiful

We stayed at the Big Paint Campground and had a nice time. The sites there are pretty spacious and level, but they don't feel very private because this campground is essentially just an open field with line of sight to all other campsites. Still, it was a lovely place with nice trails and great river access. There are also some breathtaking lookout points to see the countryside.

We drove through Little Paint Campground and many of those sites were pretty small and crowded, but again, the river access and the views made it a pleasant stay. Nearby Harper's Ferry is a neat little town, so be sure to visit there!

Month of VisitMay

(6) View All

Nicholas H.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 23, 2022

Location

The campground name is called big paint. The location is very nice, right next to the river. I wouldn't exactly call it a river though. It's nice and quiet, and very nice trail runs through it as well. The only thing is the sites are very close together

Sitesite 56

Month of VisitMay

Jeannie B.

Guide

Reviewed May. 14, 2021

Camping in a valley

This is a beautiful campground seated in a valley surrounded by amazing hills. There is minimal phone service. That means you get to absorb nature.

Site124

Month of VisitMay

Jeannie B.

Guide

Reviewed May. 9, 2021

Beautiful Park

Many different trails for hiking, biking or equestrian. Camp sites are mostly grass. Beautiful park

Site124

Month of VisitMay

Mary S.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 19, 2018

Small campground has nearby hiking and fishing

This review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.

Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?

It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.

Activities

Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.

Amenities

Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.

Cost

You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.

https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130

Site35

Month of VisitAugust

(9) View All

Jen E.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 1, 2016

Awesome campground, surprising gem not far from Chicago

We stumbled across this campground when looking for a weekend getaway from Chicago, and wow, what a great find. Hilly, much hillier than you'd expect in the midwest, with beautiful river views. The campground was nice with private sites and clean bathrooms. Great trails, and interesting cultural sites nearby (indian mounds, Field of Dreams, etc.) Awesome weekend destination.

Kimberly S.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 26, 2016

Great weeknight/off-season spot

Sara S.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 12, 2016

big paint campground

Went here with extended family for a long weekend away and it was great. The campground was pretty busy, but we felt comfortable with the seclusion of our sites. It is a primitive campground. There were walk-in in campsites available too which we decided we would try if/when we come back again since they are a bit more secluded and private.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do visitors say about camping in Yellow River State Forest?

Campers consistently praise Yellow River State Forest for its surprisingly hilly terrain and beautiful river views - quite unexpected in the Midwest. Many appreciate the serenity and natural beauty, noting the minimal phone service allows for complete immersion in nature. Visitors enjoy the lush scenery, colorful bird life, and extensive trail system for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The forest also features three lookout points, including Iowa's only fire tower. It's particularly valued as a peaceful weekend getaway, with many campers planning return visits after their first experience.

What's the difference between Big Paint and Little Paint campgrounds in Yellow River State Forest?

Big Paint Campground (sites 35-61) is smaller than Little Paint, which has 70+ sites. Big Paint is situated in a valley next to a small river, offering a more open field layout where campsites have line of sight to each other. While spacious and level, sites lack privacy as they're arranged in an open area. Big Paint is located a couple miles from Little Paint, and the area also includes two separate equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites 1-34). The setting provides excellent access to hiking trails and river views.

Are there cabins available in Yellow River State Forest for overnight stays?

No, Yellow River State Forest does not offer cabins for overnight stays. Accommodation options are limited to tent and RV camping at the primitive campgrounds (Big Paint, Little Paint, and the equestrian campgrounds). Visitors should come prepared for primitive camping conditions without amenities like running water or electricity. For those seeking cabin accommodations, it's advisable to check other state parks or private resorts in the surrounding region. Contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the most current information about lodging options in the area.

What amenities and facilities are available at Yellow River State Forest campgrounds?

Yellow River State Forest campgrounds are primitive with basic amenities. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring/grate on well-mown grassy areas. The facilities feature pit toilets but no running water or electric hookups. Firewood and ice are available for purchase at the visitor station across the road. There's no dump station on-site. Water access is available, though potable drinking water is not provided. Self-registration is required upon arrival. The campgrounds offer excellent access to the forest's extensive trail system for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Cell service is intermittent and spotty throughout the area.

Keep Exploring

Description

RV Road Trip Guides

Oregon Trail Road Trip

Independence to North Platte: 3 Day Road Trip

Build Your Trip

Location

Directions

Address

Coordinates

Connectivity

Is Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest sold out?

Connectivity

Access

Site Types

Features

For Campers

For Vehicles

Contact

Drive Time

2026 Explorer Giveaway

What do visitors say about camping in Yellow River State Forest?

What's the difference between Big Paint and Little Paint campgrounds in Yellow River State Forest?

Are there cabins available in Yellow River State Forest for overnight stays?

What amenities and facilities are available at Yellow River State Forest campgrounds?