Yellow Creek is a tributary of the Pecatonica River in Stephenson County, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The 50 mile (80.5 km) stream also flows through a small part of Jo Daviess County. The waters of Yellow Creek were accessed for water quality in 1996, 28 miles (45.1 km) were listed as "fair" and 22 miles (35.4 km) "good." During the 1832 Black Hawk War the Battle of Waddams Grove was fought along Yellow Creek.