Dunning’s Spring
Decorah, IA
A spring-fed waterfall tumbling down a limestone bluff at the edge of Decorah. Free, easy to reach and linked to town by bike trails.
Dunning's Spring Park is a 115-acre (about 46 ha) wooded city park on the edge of Decorah in northeast Iowa. Its landmark is a waterfall between limestone walls, one of 13 waterfalls in Iowa. The walk is short: about 200 yards (roughly 180 m) along the drive, over a stone bridge and up a flight of stairs; from the top you get a view over the town, according to Islands.com.
The place goes back to pioneer days: William Painter, the first white settler, built a gristmill here in 1849. Dunning bought it in 1851; in the 1870s it became the Decorah Marble Works, the mill was torn down in 1907, and a boulder in the picnic area marks its site. A tufa cave near the entrance runs about 100 feet to a house built where the Klien Brewery stood from 1857.
Park in the gravel lot next to the park off Ice Cave Road, or along the street if it is full. Half a mile (about 800 m) farther east, signed steps lead up to the ice cave, where it usually stays below 35°F (under 2°C), according to Islands.com; bring a jacket and a light.
- Nearest town
- Decorah, IA
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 43.3150, -91.7775
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Pulpit Rock CampgroundCampsite2 mi from Dunning’s SpringElectricityShowersWaste disposal
- Hutchinson Family Farms CampgroundCampsite5 mi from Dunning’s Spring
- Waukon City Park CampgroundCampsite16 mi from Dunning’s Spring · 28 pitchesElectricityDrinking waterShowersWaste disposal
- Turkey River CampgroundCampsite18 mi from Dunning’s Spring · 46 pitchesElectricityDrinking waterShowers
- Hidden Bluffs ResortCampsite20 mi from Dunning’s SpringTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Beaver Creek Valley CampgroundCampsite25 mi from Dunning’s Spring · 42 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowers
All campsites in Iowa · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Dunning’s Spring?
Dunning’s Spring is in Decorah, IA, at GPS 43.3150, -91.7775. It is about 20 mi from Harmony.
Can you camp near Dunning’s Spring?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Pulpit Rock Campground, about 2 mi away; within 25 mi there are 25 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Dunning’s Spring?
Dunning’s Spring is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Iowa’s Driftless bluffs and Norwegian Decorah.
What is there to see near Dunning’s Spring?
Places worth a stop nearby: Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum (1 mi), Bily Clocks Museum (12 mi), Mount Hosmer Park (28 mi) and Lanesboro (30 mi).
When is the best time to visit Dunning’s Spring?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)