Yellow Creek is a tributary of the Pecatonica River in Stephenson County, in the US state of Illinois. The 50-mile (80 km) stream also flows through a small part of Jo Daviess County. The waters of Yellow Creek were assessed for water quality in 1996, with 28 miles (45 km) being listed as "fair" and 22 miles (35 km) being listed as "good". During the 1832 Black Hawk War, the Battle of Waddams Grove was fought along Yellow Creek.