Cycling in Decorah

Decorah sits in Iowa’s Driftless Area — the corner of the state the glaciers missed — which means real bluffs, cold trout streams, and riding that doesn’t match anyone’s flat-Iowa stereotype. The centerpiece is the Trout Run Trail, a paved ~11-mile loop that circles the whole town, crossing trout water five times and passing the fish hatchery where the famous Decorah eagle cam nest sits. Most of the loop rolls gently along the Upper Iowa River; the southeast corner throws in a genuine switchback climb with valley views.

You don’t need to bring a bike. Decorah Bicycles sits right on the trail and rents pedal-assist e-bikes (first come, first served — no reservations), which flatten the loop’s one hard hill nicely, and Decorah River Tubes rents bikes, tandems and surreys in the same compact downtown. The Fairfield Inn & Suites is built directly on the trail on the north side of town, and booking sites list free guest bikes there — call ahead to confirm the program before you count on it.

Off the pavement, Decorah has a second reputation: its bluff parks hide some of the Midwest’s best-known singletrack, and the surrounding Driftless gravel is endless. Come April through October; the rental fleet is seasonal, and October brings blazing fall color to the bluffs.