Iowa Waterfalls; Day 2
At 8:10 we rode away from our motel in Marshalltown, IA to the Union Grove State Park south of Gladbrook, IA. It was 54 degrees with mostly blue clear skies. We rode all around the park and saw no signs indicating there was a waterfall anywhere. We were here because this web site told us there was a waterfall (onlyinyourstate-IowaWaterfalls). We parked at the only place where it looked like a waterfall might be
and walked a wooded path up to the lake. There is a spillway at the southeast end of the lake that, when overflowing, would create a waterfall here.
Today it was a dry hole and looked like it had been that way a loooong time.
After the failed waterfall sighting we rode through Gladbrook, IA. Two very good friends of ours, Lib and Steve, grew up in this area.
Then we were on to Decorah, IA via Highways 96, 63, 24 and 52. The previously mentioned web site indicated there were three waterfalls here but before checking them out we stopped for lunch at the Family Table Restaurant.
Our first stop in Decorah was at the Malanaphy Springs State Preserve. A 25 minute hike into the woods rewarded us with a sight of the spring and falls.
When I took this picture I was standing on the banks of the Upper Iowa River. It was a very pretty area. I also took two videos of the falls; MalanaphyFalls1 and MalanaphyFalls2. Then I climbed the hill and found where the spring came out of the rocks MalanaphySpring. Very cool.
Our next stop was at Dunning Spring Falls DunningSpringFalls. This was also very pretty.
There were a lot of stairs up the hill that probably led to the spring but neither of us were interested in climbing all those stairs. So . . . . I have no spring picture.
Our third and last stop in Decorah was at the Decorah Fish Hatchery. Next to the hatchery was Siewers Spring which spilled water over a man made Siewers Falls. This was another very pretty area.
At the fish hatchery it started to rain lightly and it rained on us a little bit as we rode from Decorah, IA to Prairie du Chien, WI on highways 9 and 76. Highway 76 in Iowa was a very pretty ride. At times the Mississippi River was on our left and rock bluffs were on our right.
We stopped for the day in Prairie du Chien. It was a great day of riding and sightseeing. Despite the dry hole at Union Grove State Park we had a good time at the three spring-fed waterfalls in Decorah. Total mileage today was 205 and the high temperature was 70.
To see all the pics taken today click on the following link:
Iowa Waterfalls; Day 2 Pics
After the failed waterfall sighting we rode through Gladbrook, IA. Two very good friends of ours, Lib and Steve, grew up in this area.
Then we were on to Decorah, IA via Highways 96, 63, 24 and 52. The previously mentioned web site indicated there were three waterfalls here but before checking them out we stopped for lunch at the Family Table Restaurant.
Our first stop in Decorah was at the Malanaphy Springs State Preserve. A 25 minute hike into the woods rewarded us with a sight of the spring and falls.
Our next stop was at Dunning Spring Falls DunningSpringFalls. This was also very pretty.
There were a lot of stairs up the hill that probably led to the spring but neither of us were interested in climbing all those stairs. So . . . . I have no spring picture.
Our third and last stop in Decorah was at the Decorah Fish Hatchery. Next to the hatchery was Siewers Spring which spilled water over a man made Siewers Falls. This was another very pretty area.
At the fish hatchery it started to rain lightly and it rained on us a little bit as we rode from Decorah, IA to Prairie du Chien, WI on highways 9 and 76. Highway 76 in Iowa was a very pretty ride. At times the Mississippi River was on our left and rock bluffs were on our right.
We stopped for the day in Prairie du Chien. It was a great day of riding and sightseeing. Despite the dry hole at Union Grove State Park we had a good time at the three spring-fed waterfalls in Decorah. Total mileage today was 205 and the high temperature was 70.
To see all the pics taken today click on the following link:
Iowa Waterfalls; Day 2 Pics
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