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Dunning’s Spring – Ice Cave Decorah IA 063📷 Karen Noecker, CC BY-SA 3.0

Dunning’s Spring

Decorah, IA

Nature

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.

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

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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

Iowa’s Driftless bluffs and Norwegian Decorah – A river running through a lush green forestPhoto by Niko Vassios on Unsplash
52
Scenic byways

Iowa’s Driftless bluffs and Norwegian Decorah

133 mi8 stops3 days

Nearby

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum – PainterBernatzMill© Jonathunder · CC BY-SA 3.0
History

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

Decorah, IA
Bily Clocks Museum – Wenzil Building© Kevin Schuchmann · CC BY-SA 3.0
Oddities

Bily Clocks Museum

Spillville, IA
Mount Hosmer Park - panoramio© Idawriter · CC BY-SA 3.0
Views

Mount Hosmer Park

Lansing, IA
Mississippi River in Lanesboro, MN© Be Here Main Street · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

Lanesboro

Lanesboro, MN

Campsites nearby

  • Pulpit Rock CampgroundCampsite
    2 mi from Dunning’s Spring
    ElectricityShowersWaste disposal
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Hutchinson Family Farms CampgroundCampsite
    5 mi from Dunning’s Spring
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Waukon City Park CampgroundCampsite
    16 mi from Dunning’s Spring · 28 pitches
    ElectricityDrinking waterShowersWaste disposal
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Turkey River CampgroundCampsite
    18 mi from Dunning’s Spring · 46 pitches
    ElectricityDrinking waterShowers
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Hidden Bluffs ResortCampsite
    20 mi from Dunning’s Spring
    TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
    OSMAdd to trip
  • Beaver Creek Valley CampgroundCampsite
    25 mi from Dunning’s Spring · 42 pitches
    TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowers
    OSMAdd to trip

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 36 mi from McGregor.

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)