Location: Winneshiek County, Iowa
Water Source: Malanaphy Spring
Drop: 30 Feet
Directions: Go north on Rt. 52 from Decorah to Pole Line Road and turn left (west) on Pole Line Road for 2.2 miles. Turn right on Bluffton Road and go 0.7 mile to a dirt road and small parking area on the right just before the bridge over the Upper Iowa River. Hike down the old dirt road about 1 mile to the spring and falls (you parallel the Upper Iowa River walking upstream.)
Notes: I visited Malanaphy Spring Falls on June 7, 2002. I was a little concerned as I was walking alone and wasn't sure I was in the right spot, but then I overtook two women with some children who said I was on the right trail to the falls, and then I felt better. There was a trail up the hill to the start of the falls (it's a little precarious) where the water comes out of the rock (where the woman and boy are looking in the first photo.) Then the water goes down the hill with a final drop into the Upper Iowa River. It was hard to get a good view of the falls. From the trail, there is another trail that goes down toward the river. I took that, and after some hesitation, and after watching the kids cross over, I crossed the spring water to go down to get the last two photos.
The hike into the falls was easy, and there were some wildflowers booming along the way. I took a photo of some of them. I think they are blue Sweet William and pink Wild Geranium, but I'm not sure.
Page last updated 05 Nov 2002.
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