Butterfly Garden & Community Garden (IA) Hike

While scouting for amble-worthy sites to hike in the Decorah area, I was introduced to the Butterfly Garden and Community Prairie, a large, well maintained prairie area. It has over three miles of mown trails set across from towering limestone cliffs and next to the Upper Iowa River. Not only a beautiful prairie, it is a great destination hike for any age and ability.

Once a farm field that frequently flooded, 24 years ago the city bought the land and decided to create a prairie to hold the soil and improve the water quality of the river. Through city funding and generous donations, the 105 acre site now boasts a flourishing prairie and model butterfly garden. It is one of the largest examples of planted native prairie with multiple accessible trails that I have seen in the Driftless.

Signs inviting hikers
to observe closely

The garden and prairie are found at the end of Ohio Street. The trails begin at the butterfly garden where over 60 types of native flowers and grasses are labeled and tended to. The garden is busy with insect life and introduces you to forbs you will see throughout the trails. Currently, signs are sprinkled throughout suggesting ways you can use all your senses to discover more about individual plants.

From the garden, you can pick a number of routes through the 3 miles of interconnecting trails.  There are two stunning old burr oaks that stand out on the prairies as well as a recreation of a bird effigy mound created by a local and build up as an Eagle Scout project. 

Three miles of wide, mown trails

And, of course, there are a succession of blooming plants and maturing grasses throughout the growing season. The yellows of goldenrods, sunflowers and coneflowers are much in evidence now along with Joe-Pye weed, ironweed, compassplants and cup plants. The grasses are tall and waving in the wind. Come fall, the surrounding woods and overlooks will be bursting with color. In winter, you can cross-country sky on the trails.

An information kiosk shows maps, distances, history and information and there is a covered area you can rest or picnic in - before or after your hike. 

Forested limestone cliffs
as seen from the prairie

THE HIKE:
This 105-acre native prairie wildflower planting features three miles of well-maintained and mowed grass trails. Take some time in the butterfly garden at the trailhead to see labeled examples of the over 60 native forbs that have been planted and maintained over the past 20+ years. Then head out onto the trails that are set against the backdrop of the towering forested limestone cliffs and overlooks of Phelps Park and Pulpit Rock. The Upper Iowa River runs beside it. Additional features beyond the masses of native wildflowers include two large old burr oaks and a reproduction of a bird effigy mound.

The Location:
4 Ohio St, Decorah IA
At the end of the street, continue up a narrow, paved one-lane road up and over the dike. A parking lot appears below with a kiosk and shelter to the right. A portable toilet is available on site.

A view towards Pulpit Rock

Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

Nodding onion

Looking for more area hikes? Please stop by the web version of the blog and under the "Labels" tab on the right hand side of the blog, click on "find-a-hike". There are over 75 hike descriptions and lists of hikes to try!