Decorah, Iowa offered up some great camping and cycling. The aptly-named Trout Run Trail crosses trout streams five times on its 11-mile loop. The easy-ranging-to-challenging route crosses incredible landscape and steep switchbacks for breathtaking views. The Trout Run bike trail also passed the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery. Speaking of passing, all the super fit body glove cyclists passing us had, “Liberty calves.” Deb’s comment of the challenging route was, “Olympians must train here.” It was a beautiful trail, and we made it without incident.
We also did a fair amount of hiking on the local trails during our stay at Pulpit Rock Campground.
Note – “Liberty Calves” No kidding, we seen some mighty calves on the Trout Run Trail.
Airing up the bike tires
Spillway along Trout Run Trail
Artwork on Trout Run Trail
Trout stream
Hatchery
Hatchery
Hatchery
Brood fish no longer used for eggs are released for trophy fish.
Rainbow broodstock.
Hatchery
Farm along the Trout Run Trail
Deb feeding the cows
Note – winding paved Trout Run Trail through farm land.
Sign along Trout Run Bike Trail
Checking out the new selfie stick
View of Pulpit Rock from campsite
Hiking trail to Pulpit Rock
Pulpit Rock
We drove ten miles from Decorah to Calmar for an Iowa country experience. The only open restaurant in Calmar was a Subway sandwich shop.
Calmar bike trail
Calmar bike trail
Calmar bike trail
Hiking some mountain bike trails
Note – grill made from bike parts
Pulpit Rock campsite
Trail behind campgrounds
Wild life on the trails
Trail behind campgrounds
Trail behind campgrounds
Trail behind campgrounds
Happy hikers
We walked the very clean and orderly town of Decorah.
Sign along Trout Run Bike Trail
Downtown Decorah
There are many Victorian type houses in Decorah
Decorah land mark home.
Rock wall around land mark home was made from rocks and coral collected by home owner.