News

**Weather and location changes will be emailed out to parents, and will be posted on Facebook**

Join us on Sunday, March 24th, beginning promptly at 3:00 pm, at Will Baker Athletic Fields. Children find plastic eggs filled with candy or prizes and all egg hunters receive participation gifts at the close of the Hunt. The Easter Bunny will also be there so bring your cameras! After you register online, please stop into the Park Rec office to pick up your Easter basket before the 24th!

FEE: $5 per child

DEADLINE: MARCH 18th

Registration is NOW OPEN!

You can register for activities by clicking the Online Registration & Activities Info button. Credit and debit card payments are only accepted online. If you don’t have computer access, we are still accepting registrations by mail or in person at the Park-Rec. Office, but payment must be made by check or cash.

Click Here to see the 2024 Spring Park Rec Brochure with all of our offerings!

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

The Wayside Warming House will be open for season starting Wednesday, January 17th.

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

Updated January 22, 2024 @ 3:45pm

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
  • Groomed as of 01/18/2024
• Van Peenan
  • Groomed as of 01/18/2024
• Ice Cave Road
  • Groomed as of 01/22/2024
• Dug Road- 
  • Groomed as of 01/19/2024
  • East Dug Road to Minowa Heights groomed as of 1/22/2024
• Community Prairie
  • Groomed as of 01/22/2024
• Will Baker
  • Groomed as of 01/19/2024
• Carlson Park
  • Groomed as of 01/18/2024
• Luther College Athletic Fields
  • Rolled as of 01/15/2024
  • Groomed as of 01/15/2024
• Trout Run Trail
  • As of 1/18/24: **South Section of Trout Run Trail between Fish Hatchery and Minowa Heights has not been groomed due to large drifts**
  • Groomed as of 01/19/2024
    • Wold Park to Decorah Fish Hatchery
    • 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, January 18th, 2024, the following trails have 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.

Ice Skating Rink

The Wayside Ice Rink is set to OPEN on Wednesday, January 17th 2024.

Please continue to obey signage posted until we are officially 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

Decorah Parks and Recreation invites the community to join our Winter Walkers program beginning Monday, January 1st! Winter Walkers is a fun way for folks of all ages to stay active, spend time outside, and stay motivated during the winter when we are oftentimes less likely to bundle up and head outdoors. The aim of this program is to get moving every day, so feel free to participate as a walker, runner, biker, or whatever keeps you moving!

Participate as an individual or create a pod (small group or family) and challenge yourself to get outside and walk every day. There is no cost to participate, participants should register online by completing THIS registration form.

Each week you will receive an email that includes suggested routes, fun challenges, and a link to each week’s walk log. Each submitted log is an entry into a drawing for a monthly prize. You are not required to walk/move a certain amount, but rather are encouraged to set weekly goals and to keep a personal log to track and celebrate your own accomplishments.

Register now and join us as we walk Decorah!

The Decorah Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to attend the 26th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash sponsored by Decorah Bank & Trust and Gundersen Health System!  This free family friendly event will be held Sunday, December 31, 5:30-9:30pm, in the Luther College Regents Center. The evening includes open swimming, basketball, tennis, pickleball, a Bouncy House for the little ones, and more.  Concession items including pizza, popcorn, water and Gatorade will be available for purchase. Please enter the Luther College Regents Center using the circle drive entrance on the west side of the building.

NEW** kids receive a free Luther College t-shirt upon arrival. These shirts will grant you FREE entry into any Luther College sporting event for the 2024 calendar year (Jan. 1- Dec. 31)

If possible, please RSVP here to help us plan ahead: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeG-wtGsdDHXTHuwSo36cZiMWdWkLEd2fycDABpeQ5NibUubA/viewform?usp=pp_url