Hwy 76 to Kumpf Access/Upper Iowa Access: 3. From Cattle Creek Road to Chimney Rock Road was a great stretch at 4. "He went on like a trooper, " Randy recalled. Every few hundred yards the current increases as the river approaches shallows where water races over rocks creating a rapid effect. 40. photosPerPage: 40. startPage: 1. totalPhotoCount: 66. page: 1. lastPage: 2. Friday, February 1, 2013 7:45 AM. Randy's Bluffton Store and Campground. Hazards and Log Jams: No hazards and no log jams. Getaway And Relax At A Repurposed School Bus On The Iowa River. Kenny Chesney, a three-time Country Music Association entertainer of the year, did have a close call when he was stung by a bee prior to his performance. 6/11/2018 3:18:00 AM. You can get out here and climb/hike up the cascading ledges to a couple caves inside the cliff to where the springs gurgle forth. That said, I did see my first-ever mink during this trip.
Two hundred- and 300-foot-tall limestone bluffs tower above creating a majestic river corridor. Others the Logsdons said helped make the event possible were Bemiss Distributing, Cresco Liquor, Lynch BBQ, Reicks Chicken, Chad Ness Tents, Hacketts Porta Potty, Eddy Hodges Security, South Winneshiek Trap Club, Hacker and Nelson CPAs, Proline Audio, Decorah Newspapers, bartenders and "many others who were involved in the production work it takes to put on an event like this. I had no idea it would be such a magnet for other paddlers. Randy's Bluffton Store and Campground - Decorah, IA. The river meanders a lot, which is always welcome, as you never know what's around the bend. We invite you to help us "Light Up The Bluff" with our huge fireworks display.
There is a full-service campground with sites for tent or trailer camping. At Wyalusing State Park, camp 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. The scenery is amazing. One last thing, make sure to add the following upcoming events to your calendar. Another treat on this trip were the springs.
To ensure a safe and fun trip down the river, contact the following Visit Bluff Country outfitters to rent tubes, canoes, and kayaks. Travel time from Cresco, IA. The Volga River Recreation Area is located in one of the most scenic parts of the state. Explore 2½ hours from Cresco. "We thought the market was right for country music in Bluffton. Randy's bluffton store and campgrounds. Bluffton Resort is located in Iowa. Loading... Edit Photo Info.
Maquoketa River from Monticello to Mississippi River to Sabula; 2. Likely a generic section. Load page: 0 >= 0. photoHeight: 200. scrollPosition: 0. allPhotosLoaded: false. RV Park/Campground Details. We never had a cancellation, " Randy said. Not as nice as the Chimney Rock horseshoe, this is still amazing and there is a nice gravel bar in the middle where you can take panoramas. Dunning Springs: Much larger than Malanaphy Springs, this is easy to access in Decorah and is well worth the visit…but is absolutely crawling with people. The most popular Friday night opening act was The Cory Farley Band, featuring Decorah native Cory Farley. Iowa Explorer: Hammock along Upper Iowa River, and you may never come. 7961 County U West, Beetown, WI. Right away bluffs are visible from the access and will be for much of the trip. Alternative Upper Iowa River Trips: - Chester/River Street to Lidke Park: 7.
• Rhubarb Festival, Lanesboro, Minn., June 4. Their loss though, as there are three incredible springs hiding at the base of the bluffs. We went at 305 CFS according to the local Bluffton gauge, which was more than plenty. I had the most peaceful stay which was exactly what I was wanting. Put-in: The bridge at Cattle Creek Road is a very good and busy access spot. The first two have been "dammed" by paddlers and are quite the sight (see pictures below). If you hike up a short but very steep bluff, you'll reach the cave where the water emerges. Because the river is so nice, it does draw a crowd.
It's estimated that around 55% of children in the US ride such a bus to school. Hours not available. Light Up the Bluff was an incredible 20 years, said Randy, who lives in Bluffton. Located along the Upper Iowa River, this privately owned campground is a store and also has kayak rentals and shuttle services for river trip planning. What we didn't like: Despite its name, if you put in at Chimney Rock Road, you'll miss Chimney Rock itself, a stately limestone formation that rises out of the bluff above a tree line and resembles, you guessed it, a chimney. Address: 2619 Ravere Rd, Decorah, Iowa 52101. You'll pass several campgrounds along the river in this trip, some snarlier than others, but all embracing the river and enabling paddling, so one can't really get worked up about this. Iverson Bridge Access to Hwy 76: 6. The temperature is about perfect: cool enough to keep bugs at bay but comfortable enough for shorts and T-shirt and a midafternoon dip. Thank you to the wonderful times at Light Up the Bluff. A pleasant paddle through the city of Decorah with good views of the bluffs. In Iowa winters, the bus ride can be quite an adventure – and not one you want to repeat too many times!
We drove up on a Thursday night before the float would begin and stoked a campfire under the nearly full moon until twilight. A river well suited for beginners and bigger canoes. Decent, but not a spectacular stretch. John commented at the time every event like this has a life span. Within 150 miles of Cresco. Root River Rod Co., Lanesboro, Minn. 5. Little Turkey Campground. Malanaphy Springs to Will Baker Park in Decorah: 6. All comments require approval. Required for publication). Trip across the Mississippi to reach a take-out in Wisconsin.
Drive-InPark next to your site. While the first half of this trip is showier and blessed with the great palisades and limestone bluffs, the second half has a more remote countryside feel to it. Not as popular a segment. 7 hour drive from Cresco. Eighteen miles is a long day of paddling, true but such a trip would offer the "greatest hits" of the Upper Iowa River and would be worth it. Normally you don't drink untreated water, but I am glad to report a month later no signs of giardia. Some nice hillsides but lacking in cliffs. Don't forget to ask for a map of the river(s).
So, all in all, a fantastic trip I think all serious paddlers in southern Wisconsin should consider. Randy's, for example, shuttled three of us and our boats to the put-in and dropped our car at the take-out for just 30 dollars. Please fill out the form below to submit a comment. Randy Logsdon, left, and brother John, right, pose for a photograph with country western recording artist John Conlee. It looks like there are some decent bluffs on this stretch. We got to get up on stage and sing with him. If you do not have your own equipment, check to see if the outfitter rents fishing equipment, as some do. Iverson Bottoms Access to Iverson Bridge Access: 1.
Shuttle service is nice but I felt a little mislead after our phone conversation compared to what happened. Ellingson Bridge Drive to Red Bud Drive: 0. If you don't want to see Chimney Rock, you can put in at Chimney Rock Road where there is a nice public put-in. Plymouth Rock Access to Cattle Creek Road: 4. And, the water is so much clearer and cleaner than any other river I've seen in Iowa. My 15-year-old son, Ollie, navigated a kayak and I alternated between a canoe and kayak.
Pleasant with good riffles and some bluffs. Try to get a site closest to the bluff for the best experience! Honestly, a little disappointing because you could hardly see the bluffs or water from the overlooks.