The Drifty Wisconsin
%402x%20(1).svg){kind=icon}
%402x%20(1).svg){kind=icon}
The Adventure You Need This Summer
The Drifty is an 8-day, unscripted bikepacking adventure that takes place in the beautiful Driftless Region of Southern Wisconsin.
Live music at the start and finish, camaraderie, camping, bikepacking… it’s the greatest adventure of your life.
.png)
turner mountain
5,952 Feet | 2,200-Foot Vertical Rise | 20 Runs | 70% Black Diamond
.png)
what to expect
The mountain is all ours…all you have to do is show up and ride for free. We will have kegs in the lift line, crazy games, the kitchen will be open to purchase food, & limited rentals will be available. Meet new people, ski with friends, drink, and be merry!
The Cabinets have incredible trails and backcountry for snowmobiling. There is a limitless amount of terrain to explore.
.png)
tie-dye theme
Our theme is Tie-Dye, so grab your grooviest, most vibrant threads and let’s bring the rainbow to life! Expect a splash of fun, funky patterns, and plenty of colorful vibes as we party all day long!
.png)
Lodging NearBy
AirBnBs
Caboose Motel & Adventures
Evergreen Motel
Country Inn
Stay at the Venture Inn—our official lodge for the Mountain Meetup, Jan. 15-19th! Mention "Lost Travel" when booking to snag their exclusive AAA rate.
Whether you’re royalty (King) or just a Queen in need of a good night’s sleep, they’ve got you covered:
• Queen: $120 + tax
• King: $124 + tax
• Double: $124 + tax
These prices are good through Dec. 31st, so don’t sleep on it—just sleep in it!
the drifty
The Driftless area of Wisconsin is legendary. Legend has it the Laurentide ice sheet was crushing on it so hard it decided to spare it from its destruction.
In addition to its steep and rugged landscape, it has the largest concentration of cold water streams in the world as well as an endless supply of rolling wooded hills. Oh, and perhaps you’ve heard of the Wisconsin River, the longest free-flowing stretch of river in the Midwest. It’s chock-full of islands and sandbars.
You’ll begin and end just a few miles from the Dane County Regional airport (MSN). After you bike to the river on Day 1 Lost will take your bike and throw a canoe at you. Once you reach the end of the river, they will swap you back. Lost will take care of all the boring logistic stuff.
A couple of important bits for ya:
A couple boring requirements
PRICING & INCLUSIONS
What’s included?
How do you put a price on the great outdoors, adventure, and life long memories!? Turns out, it’s not that difficult or expensive. For your hard earned bucks you’ll get the adventure of a lifetime and some incredible stories.
- A start line & finish line party (food + drinks included)
- Campground accommodations for the kickoff party
- A sea-worthy canoe for your whole team
- Paddles and life vests for your whole team
- A treasure map for you and your friends to decipher.
- At least one bald eagle sighting (they stopped counting at 20)
- Transportation and secure storage for your bike while you’re drifting down the river
- Shiny piece of metal to commemorate it all
- Stories your coworkers will drool over
INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Two panniers are standard and should be sufficient. Bring a slingshot and a pair of fresh underwear, just in case. We'd recommend a tent since that's the most versatile, but hammocks are doable if you want to pack light. Make sure to bring all of your own biking safety gear: helmet, gloves, etc. The kayak/canoe rental comes with life vests, paddles, etc.
On land, you'll have access to bathrooms wherever you go. When you're on the river, the only option is to dig a hole and poop in it, so we recommend bringing a cat trowel. Also, bring a spare tube for your bike tire along with anything you'd need for bike maintenance. We'll have a mobile bike shop at the kickoff, but once you leave the start line, everything is on you, Drifty style.
Kickoff night and finish line meals are on us! In between, you’re on your own. There are ample grocery stores and restaurants along the biking route (no matter which way you go!) so we don't think you need to bring a ton of food to start. Many people will stop at the grocery store before getting on the canoes. This is a good time to stock up on water, drinks, food, etc. At the transition to canoes we'll have some fire wood you can take with you so you can have a camp fire.
Our best advice is to not bring a car with you. The best car is no car. Ideally, get yourself dropped off at the kickoff camp and have someone meet you at Drifty Fest. We'll even toss them a free beer. If that's not possible, there is paid, secure parking at the Dane County airport. The covered ramp costs $10/day, the surface lot is $8/day, and the economy lot is $6/day. Pro tip: The finish line is only 2 miles from the airport. Alternatively, there's free surface parking at the Dutch Mill Park & Ride, which is 10 miles to the start line and 6.5 miles to the finish line.
Wave at everybody—it's a Wisconsin thing. Avoid Highway 18. Try Spotted Cow—if you haven’t done it, do it. Tie your canoe to something. It's an adventure, get drifty with it.
No camping on the shoreline unless you're in a campground. Islands and sandbars are okay! No glass containers. No fireworks. Fun—have it.
No worries. Your future best friends already signed up for this trip. Our kickoff festivities are all about building camaraderie so you won’t have to ride solo.
A kayak and canoe are included in your registration. We recommend bringing your own bike. However if this isn’t an option, we will set you up with rental options.
