Things to do & places to visit in Decorah, Iowa, United States

Decorah city in Iowa, United States. Timezone: America/Chicago, current date and time: Friday, May 03, 2024, 7:50.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Trout Run Trail (91 reviews)
- Beautiful Biking and Hiking
Hiking Trails

This trail was the reason that my wife and I came to Decorah. It is about 17 miles long and goes around the whole town. It varies from city to farmland to trout stream. We walked the trail and had a great time. There are a few changes in elevation, but all in all it is not a hard trail to walk See more..
5.0 Agora (15 reviews)
- Artsy gem in downtown Decorah
Friday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Speciality & Gift Shops
Agora features works in all media by a variety of artists. It is fun to just go and look at the unique items they display, which they do beautifully. The store is technically in the Winnishiek Hotel, a lovely historic hotel, but you enter the store from Water Street, not the hotel lobby. The staff is really nice as well. When I admired a painting on the wall which was out of my price range, the attendant showed me two alternative presentations of the same work. One was a reasonably priced poster, and one was a note card, which she suggested putting in a floating glass frame since it was not a standard size for matting. Given the quality of merchandize, it would be easy for the staff to be pretentious, but like the rest of this town, they are warm and welcoming. This store is truly a gem. Anyone with an interest in the arts would enjoy a visit here. See more..
5.0 Phelps Park (11 reviews)
- Photography
Parks • Playgrounds

Beautiful spot with eagle effigy, stream, catch & release fishing, wildlife viewing, all close to downtown Decorah. See more..
5.0 Decorah Bicycles (2 reviews)
- Handy and Helpful!
Gear Rentals
We've rented bikes from this shop two summers in a row now, and have had great experiences both times. It is super close to the Trout Run Trail, so it's perfect for visitors. They have electric-assist bicycles for rent, I think it was $40 for 4 hours, which were the best! They were so much fun to try, and for the western/hilly part of the trail they were great! Staff seems very knowledgeable, were very kind and helpful. See more..
5.0 Silvercrest Golf Club (2 reviews)
- Also the best fish dinners in NE Iowa
Spent 2-3 hours Golf Courses
My wife and I don't play much golf but we love to eat Fish Fry's at Silvercrest. It is the local club to eat and lubricate after a hard day of golf. Oh, yes, the Golf course is 9 holes. See more..
5.0 La Rana Bistro (1 review)
- Unexpected Gem
Friday: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM Bars & Clubs
Our motorcycle triad ended up in Decorah because it was a convenient waypoint and we ended up at La Rana Bistro because we told the cab driver we wanted something a step above bar food. What a great surprise. We dropped in with no reservation and were fortunate to get seated at the bar. Excellent, pleasant, friendly service. After cocktails we ordered our food. I had the scallops and angel hair pasta, my friends the beef short ribs special and the grilled salmon. All were excellent. It was a great end to a great day of riding. This is a waypoint not to be deleted and worth another visit. See more..
5.0 ArtHaus (1 review)
- Saturday Open Studio and Free Story Hour
Friday: 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Lessons & Workshops

ArtHaus is Decorah's art center. - Professional Gallery - Artists Market - Ceramic Glazing - Open Studio - Classes for Youth and Adults - Paint a longs - Private Parties See more..
5.0 Bluffton Resort And Bar (1 review)
- Beautiful
Kayaking & Canoeing
The entire area is gorgeous and the campground is well kept. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, they an excellent job and are quick to assist you. The river area and cliffs make for a great kayaking experience. See more..
5.0 Evergreen Hills Christmas Tree Farm (1 review)
- Perfect Christmas Tree experience
Spent 1-2 hours Farms

We have found and cut our Christmas tree here for the past two years (2015 and 2016). They have many perfect trees, it is difficult to choose. They shake, wrap, and help you load your tree. Very friendly. Reasonably priced. Nice for families and kids. Hot cider! See more..
4.5 Dunnings Spring Park (226 reviews)
- Beautiful Park!
Waterfalls

This is a beautiful "hidden" gem in Decorah. I say hidden because all the locals and college kids will tell you right where it is and strongly encourage you to visit. During my college years I spent many days walking to the springs and just enjoying the sounds and sights of the falls. When we last visited this summer, there was so much water, you had to park across the road from the park entrance and walk the rest of the way up the path. They were also repairing the bridge that leads to a path that will take you further above the falls. I'm guessing this was also do to excessive water damage. It's nice to see that they keep people safe and keep the park well maintained. See more..
4.5 Vesterheim (208 reviews)
- Great exhibits!
Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums • History Museums

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the conversation of the American immigrant journey through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience, and to participate in the continual evolution of traditional folk art as it meets new influences. Vesterheim offers innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, and programs, both at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa, and online at vesterheim.org. See more..
4.5 Toppling Goliath Brewing Company (163 reviews)
- Great beer, fun too
Friday: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

Family-friendly, full-service taproom with over 20 beers on tap; a full menu of pizza, burgers, wraps, salads and more; and indoor and pet-friendly patio seating (weather permitting). The taproom hosts a full line-up of events year-round. Check the website (www.tgbrews.com) for menu offerings, tap list, and event schedule. Calendar of Events: https://www.tgbrews.com/calendar See more..
4.5 Decorah Fish Hatchery (157 reviews)
- Learn about trout and nature at this stop.
Nature & Wildlife Areas

I came across this as my wife and I were on the Trout Run Trail loop. I swung and said, "I need to come back!"... which I did!. Overall cool place to look at the trout 'hatchery' process. The facility was closed but we were able to walk, read and observe this hefty facility. They had an on-site stream that evidently had trout in them as we observed some people fishing it. Overall a nice place for young and old! See more..
4.5 Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm (97 reviews)
- A Lovely Walk
Farms

Seed Savers Farm is fun to wander around on. So many flowers in bloom along the trail, and the main building has seeds and canned goods for sale. Two major gardens are near the main building, one more of an experimental lab, and the other representative of what they heritage seeds they sell. I'm glad I went. See more..
4.5 Pulpit Rock Brewing Company (63 reviews)
- Cheers
Friday: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Breweries

We made a trek to Decorah from the Twin Cities to visit Toppling Goliath and Pulpit Rock and to our surprise, we liked Pulpit Rock much better. Nice little spot with super nice, outgoing staff that made us feel like we were regulars. Saftig NE IPA was delicious! See more..
4.5 Winneshiek Wildberry Winery (32 reviews)
- Very nice place
Friday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards

You can enjoy the country at our 150 year old family farm winery. Our award winning wines are available to sample or purchase by the glass or bottle. Your visit can include lunch from our kitchen or bring your lunch. There is plenty of seating indoors and outdoors on the patio. You can stroll and read about the grape varieties and tour our winery. Every 2nd Sunday is winery brunch from 10 to 1. See more..
4.5 Pinter's Gardens & Pumpkins (9 reviews)
- Great customer service
Speciality & Gift Shops

We arrived at 5:58pm and the close at 6:00pm. They were so accommodating and allowed us to pick up cupcakes and you would never have known we were keeping them late. Not to mention how YUMMY the cupcakes are! Thank you, closing time is a real measure of customer service and you nailed it. See more..
4.5 Porter House Museum (8 reviews)
- Interesting
Friday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums • Architectural Buildings

Reopened May 1, 2022. Open daily, 1 to 4 PM. . Guided tours of the former Decorah home of Adelbert Field Porter (1879 – 1968) and Grace Young Porter (1880 – 1964), the Porter House Museum is an inspiring exploration of history, nature, and art. “Bert” (as he was more commonly called) was a gentleman naturalist, collector, and photographer who traveled throughout the world in pursuit of butterflies, rocks, and other curiosities. A man of artistic sensibilities, Bert used his nature collections to create unique “nature art,” for which he became well known during his lifetime. At the museum, visitors experience the historic travels, art, and collecting of this naturalist and his wife, Grace Young Porter, a skilled china painter and civic and social leader. All original furnishings create a backdrop of Victorian elegance that was their home and heritage. See more..
4.5 Locust School (8 reviews)
- /Great stop a lot of history
History Museums

I attended eight years--one room school--1854-1960 /reunion each year in October--pie auction at church next door See more..
4.5 Heritage Farm and Preservation Gardens (6 reviews)
- Very enjoyable visit
Farms • Gardens

Visited the Seed Savers Exchange for their Annual Tomato Tasting. A lovely experience- very well presented. The grounds are well laid out and there was a lot to see. The gift shop was excellent as well and everything was well priced. See more..
4.5 Day Spring Spa (4 reviews)
- Wow
Spas
Four of us from out of town had the spa renewal. We four have gone to a spa in a different city every year for the past 12 years, and with the exception of the spa at the Four Seasons in Hawaii, this has been our favorite. We left feeling like puddles. See more..
4.5 Malanaphy Springs (4 reviews)
- Beautiful Waterfall on Upper Iowa River
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 1-2 hours Waterfalls

We visited Malanaphy Springs for a hike with our dog to see the waterfall while visiting Decorah. A 1-mile trail leads along the trail and ends at Malanaphy Springs. The waterfall drops into Upper Iowa River from here. Can't see much of the waterfall from the top and it's a tricky scramble down to the base, but beautiful views of the waterfall and river. The spring originates from a fissure in the cliffs above. It's a steep climb up loose gravel to see the cliffs and the spring. Definitely worth a visit if in Decorah and much less crowded than more popular attractions. See more..
4.5 Dragonfly Books (2 reviews)
- Full shop
Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

Dragonfly Books is a family-owned general interest bookstore located on Water Street in downtown Decorah, Iowa. We also special order books for our customers, with very quick turn-around time and no shipping charges for in-store pickup. We look forward to serving your reading needs! See more..
3.5 Ice Cave (80 reviews)
- Can't Go Far in the Cave
Caverns & Caves

Decorah Ice Cave is a state preserve but managed by the town of Decorah. We stopped by after visiting Dunning's Spring Park and waterfall. Ice Cave Road is closed past Dunning's Spring, so we walked about a half-mile up the road to the cave. Due to collapses, it's only possible to go about 10 feet into the cave and we didn't see any ice. However, it was really chilly in the cave on a warm summer day. I spoke with a couple locals who said you could go a lot further into the cave until about 10 years ago when some rocks collapsed and limited entry. But it's still worth a side trip if visiting Dunning's Spring. See more..
3.5 Decorah RiverTubes (3 reviews)
- Wedding
Gear Rentals

I saw lots of big fish, but I was there for a wedding. It was a nice setting with a small waterfall and the rain held off. Nice bathroom facilities. Also saw the eagles in the tree by the entrance. See more..
3.0 Hutchinson Family Farms (16 reviews)
- Quiet place by the river
Farms

Know what to expect and you will really enjoy this stay. We were expecting more from the bathroom/shower than a small room with a single toilet and shower (separated by a shower curtain. There is a nice outhouse too. It makes for some waiting for the facilities. We stayed in the tiny house and small cabin for two adults and three teens. There is room to sleep but not much more. The hosts are very friendly. The best part of the trip was a four hour kayak trip. Beautiful bluffs along the river and you end at the campground. See more..
1.0 Jewels (1 review)
- Kids checked out a half a dozen pairs of skates - something badly wrong with each of them.
Spent 2-3 hours Game & Entertainment Centers
Very disappointing to our grandkids. The place is completely run down. Offered no, "I'm sorry" or no refund. Will not try again. See more..
1.0 River & Trail Outfitters (1 review)
- Unkind Owner
Gear Rentals
My husband and some of his family ranging in age from 12-50 came upon some rough Upper Iowa River conditions when they canoed into Decorah, IA. Despite an emergency landing of three of their five canoes at the River & Trail Outfitters landing and an attempt at gaining their composures, they were met by an angry owner (while he was on-duty, or assumed since he was driving a city vehicle). He angrily approached them and asked, "How many canoes?" He demanded his $5 per canoe fee, and the group agreed they would get him his $15 as soon as they got to camp and were able to obtain the cash from their support crew. He falsely accused them of landing five canoes since he found out the crew had five canoes, and didn't seem to care that two of the five had actually landed further downstream. He did not care about the safety of the canoers and was so concerned about his measely $15. He could have handled things so differently. My family was more than willing to pay the $15, but since it was an emergency landing, canoes had tipped, and no one had cash at the time; the group had tried to convey to Mr. Cote where they were camping and that they would indeed have him reimbursed. Not only was the river a scary situation, the owner made the entire situation even more scarier for the family canoe trip. I would suggest trying to avoid this establishment for landing or put-in. See more..
Magic Morpho (0 review)
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality & Gift Shops

A magical rock shop to soothe and delight the senses. See more..
Backwater Spirits & More (0 review)
Friday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Speciality & Gift Shops
See more..