News

Spring weather has arrived and we are all ready to get outside and enjoy the trails, but unfortunately many off road trails are not ready for bike or foot traffic just yet. Each spring the off road trails go through freeze thaw cycles and walking or riding trails too early in the season can cause significant immediate as well as long term damage. This can also occur after rain, which results in muddy trails.

Decorah boasts a wonderful off road trail system. Please be mindful of trail conditions before heading walking, riding, or running on the trails, and please remember to stay on trails while you’re exploring.

Thanks for being respectful of the trail system and for monitoring trail conditions before you head out to explore!

Looking for another reason to enjoy Decorah’s beautiful outdoors this summer? How about some extra motivation to walk through some of Decorah’s amazing parks? Consider signing up to adopt a bluebird box!

Decorah Park and Recreation is hosting this very low-commitment volunteer opportunity, and it just may help recover populations of the Eastern Bluebird. Adopting a bluebird box is as easy as follows:

• Sign up to help
• Get assigned a bluebird box, marked with a laminated tag with your name  and the Bluebird Habitat Helpers logo on it
• At least once every 2 weeks from mid-April through June, walk to and check your box. If box contains an English Sparrow nest, remove nest.
• At end of season, report if a bluebird nested in the box, and if possible, how many fledglings were raised.
• That’s it!

If you would like to know more about this program or to sign up, contact Logan Hahn, Parks Assistant at lhahn@decorah.iowa.gov

Our spring registration is set to open on Friday, February 14th at 8:00am.

Check out the brochure here. Additional programs and events are subject to change during the year.

The Wayside Ice Rink and Warming House is now CLOSED for the season, February 24th, 2025.

• 108 5th Avenue, Decorah
• Located across the street from West Side Dental and Pulpit Rock Brewery

Please abide by posted signage while skating, and be courteous of others while on the ice.

Times below indicate the Warming House Hours:

Monday – Thursday  3:00pm – 7:00pm

Friday   3:00pm – 9:00pm

Saturday   1:00pm – 9:00pm

Sunday   1:00pm – 7:00pm

For skate rentals, please visit Decorah Bicycles online, or in-store at 101 College Drive.

Decorah Bicycle Hours:

• Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Sundays: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays

*Last day for ice skate rentals is Sunday, February 23rd*

Updated February 16, 2025 @ 11:30am

As winter weather approaches, please check back with updates regarding park and trail conditions.

Click here for our new XC Ski and Winter Multi-Use Trails Map

Cross Country Skiing

• Palisades
  • Rolled as of 2/15/2025
  • Groomed as of 2/16/2025
• Van Peenan
  • Rolled as of 2/15/2025
  • Groomed as of 2/16/2025
• Ice Cave Road
  • Rolled as of 2/15/2025
  • Groomed as of 2/16/2025
• Dug Road- 
  • Rolled as of 2/15/2025
  • East Dug Road to Minowa Heights rolled as of
• Community Prairie
  • Rolled as of 2/15/2025
  • Groomed as of 2/16/2025
• Will Baker
  • Rolled as of
• Carlson Park
  • Rolled as of 2/15/2025
  • Groomed as of 2/16/2025
• Luther College Athletic Fields
  • Rolled as of
  • Groomed as of
• Trout Run Trail
  • Rolled as of 2/15/2025
    • Wold Park to Decorah Fish Hatchery
    • —Groomed as of 2/16/2025
    • Minnowa Heights to Dug Road

Please check back later for more updates on trails and routes.

Snowshoeing

Decorah Parks & Recreation encourages those snowshoeing to use the multi-use trail in Carlson Park, the Decorah Community Prairie, Ice Cave, Dunning Springs and the trails in Van Peenen. Please be courteous of skiers and stay off the groomed ski trails.

Fat Biking

As of Thursday, February 13th, 2025, the following trails have not been groomed:

• Public Television
• The Pines
• Upper and Lower Little Bighorn
• First Right
• Gunnar, Fred’s
• Old Randy’s, Rocky Road
• The Luge
• Upper Ice Cave
• Captains

Please use caution when riding and be courteous of trail conditions if they are soft or if you are sinking.

Plowed Walking Routes

Staff will plow routes for walking throughout the winter season.

• Route #1: Starting at 5th Ave Bridge, travel south along bike trail to Pulpit Rock Campground. Pulpit Rock Campground will be plowed for pedestrians to walk loops around the campground and can return to 5th Ave bridge via the bike trail.
• Route #2: Trout Run Trail is plowed from the intersection of Commerce Drive and Montgomery Street to Wellington Place in Freeport. Pedestrians can park in the parking lot by bowstring bridge or in the northwest corner of the Walmart Parking lot.
• Route #3: Starting at the Dug Road entrance, follow Trout Run Trail to 5th Street Bridge and turn left onto Ice Cave Road. Follow Ice Cave Road to College Drive, turn left and take the sidewalk across College Drive Bridge. From there, the route loops back towards the Dug Road entrance past the Water Department.

Wayside Ice Rink and Warming House

Please continue to obey signage posted while open for skating!

The ice rink will stay open as long as conditions are favorable, please obey signage while at the rink.

Times below indicate Warming House Hours:

Monday – Thursday  3:00pm – 7:00pm

Friday   3:00pm – 9:00pm

Saturday   1:00pm – 9:00pm

Sunday   1:00pm – 7:00pm

Join The Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Decorah Park-Rec., and Winneshiek County Conservation for a Free Fly Fishing Workshop Saturday, February 1, 2025.

This FREE workshop will be held in the Decorah High School Gymnasium from 10:00am- 12:00pm and is open to all ages.

Local casting instructors will discuss equipment, demonstrate basic casts, and will work with participants on their fly casting skills. Participants will be able to watch experts and learn how to tie their favorite flies.

There is no registration required, just show up!