Malanaphy Springs State Preserve

Malanaphy Springs State Preserve is a 64-acre area featuring a rugged forest area with a large spring and waterfall. It is located along the Upper Iowa River two miles northwest of Decorah in Winneshiek County. Part of the land was a gift from Fred Biermann of Decorah, which helped facilitate the state’s first purchase of 51 acres in 1947. The area was dedicated in 1994 as a state preserve for its geological and biological qualities, and was named after a previous landowner. 

Directions

1. From the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 52 in Decorah, take Highway 52 north for 2 miles to Pole Line Road (W20). 
2. Turn west (left) and follow this winding road 3 miles to Bluffton Road. 
3. Turn north (right), cross the Upper Iowa River, and go 0.75 mile on this curving road to a parking area for the preserve on the north (right) side of the road (sign: Malanaphy Springs State Preserve). 
4. A walking trail leads northeast from the parking lot.

About the Land

The preserve is located in the center of the Paleozoic Plateau landform region. A trail from the parking area leads north to a prominent spring issuing from a crevice in a high cliff. The cliffs in the preserve are made up of Galena Group dolomite of Ordovician age (450 million years old). Of particular beauty and interest is a series of cascading falls ending in a tenfoot waterfall. The waterfall flows over “tufa” (a porous lime deposit) that has accumulated at the base of the cascades. Older shelves of tufa in the vicinity relate to other spring outlet channels in the geologic past. 

Flora & Fauna

The steep west-facing slopes support a mesic forest with numerous dolomite outcrops, slump blocks, and talus. Over 300 native vascular plants occur in the preserve. Sugar maple, basswood, and red oak dominate the forest canopy with an understory of ironwood and scattered blue beech. 

The southern portion of the preserve contains extensive moderate cliffs and small algific talus slopes, many of which are covered with Canada yew. Cliff faces support walking fern, bulblet bladder fern, and smooth cliffbrake. Several rare snail species can be found in these habitats. Please do not walk on these sensitive slopes. 

Skunk cabbage begins blooming in a small seep near the south entrance in late February, followed in the upland woods by bloodroot, snow trillium, and hepatica in early April. By late April, wood anemone, wild ginger, spring beauty, Dutchman’s breeches, and woodland sedge can be found in bloom. 

Summer wildflowers include red baneberry, great Indian plantain, Solomon’s seal, yellow pimpernel, and hairy wood mint. A number of showy shrubs occur here, including rough-leaved dogwood, alternateleaved dogwood, ninebark, red-berried elder, and bush honeysuckle. By late August, several asters and goldenrods are blooming. Throughout the growing season the foliage of many ferns add to the beauty of the woodland. 

The preserve provides habitat for many animals including seventeen land snails. Many of the birds are neotropical migrant species. Among these are the black-billed cuckoo, Acadian flycatcher, rose-breasted grosbeak, redeyed vireo, and scarlet tanager. 

Regulations

• Cross-country skiing is permitted on the trail. 
• Hunting is permitted. 

Nearby State Preserves

Other state preserves in the area include: 

• Bluffton Fir Stand
• Decorah Ice Cave
• Cold Water Spring
• Fort Atkinson
• Saint James Lutheran Church