Biking and Recreation


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	Area Recreation We are new fans of riding bicycles, and are strong supporters of the bike trail that will someday connect Decorah, Iowa to Lanesboro, Mn. It will go through Winneshiek and Howard Counties before heading to Harmony and Lanesboro. What great Economic Development! Look what the trail did for Lanesboro. Now North Iowans will reap some rewards as well. More later...	Bike Trails Trail Riding Music Rec Centers Cool Places
The Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail runs through the abandoned Milwauke Railroad line and connects Cresco, Ridgeway and Calmar. The trail is a great way to see some of what Winnishiek County has to offer. On either side of the trail, native prarie areas can be found. These areas contain many native plants and forms of wildlife. Cresco – Access to the trail is located at Highway 9 East near V & V insurance. You can also access the trail at the County Line Parking area that is located two miles east of Cresco and immediately south of Highway 9. Ridgeway – Access to the trail is available from almost any street within the city limits. The most convenient spot to access the trail is at Ridgeway Park, which is located on the east edge of town. The park includes conveniences of water, pit toilets, shelter, playground, picnicking, and parking areas. Calmar – Access to the trail is available at any road that crosses the trail. The main access point is at the old railroad depot. The depot is located at the intersection of Highway 52 and the present railroad. The Prairie Springs Recreational Trail was constructed in the year 2000 to connect Cresco and Vernon. The trail now has a hard surface and is open again for public use. The trail is a great way to experience what Northeast Iowa has to offer. Along the trails there are wooded areas which are home to many different species of wildlife. There are also some native prairie areas along the trail that are home to many native plant and animal species. Cresco – A popular access point to the trail is the lot on the intersection of First Avenue and Third Street. Another access point is in the works at the intersection of Highway 9 and the Granger Road. This site will feature a rest area with a secure area for bikes and possibly rest room facilities. Vernon – Access to the trail from Vernon is located near the rear of the Prairie's Edge Nature Center. Conveniences and attractions at the Vernon access point include playground equipment, rest rooms, nature center, Vernon Springs Dam, hiking areas, fishing areas, picnic benches, and parking areas. Camping: Lake Meyer Park (located between Calmar and Fort Atkinson off of Iowa Highway #24) Kendallville Park (located approximately 5 miles north of the rest terminus of the trail off of Iowa Highway #139) Lake Hendricks Park (located in Riceville on the Northeast edge of town) Lidtke Mill (North Edge of Lime Springs) Lodging: Motels: Cresco and Decorah Bed and Breakfasts: Cresco, Calmar and Decorah Food: Calmar, Ridgeway, Cresco, Decorah Equipment Rental: Bicycle Equipment Rental: Calmar and Decorah Cross Country Skiing Equipment Rental: Decorah Restrooms/Water: Parks in Cresco, Ridgeway, and Calmar. Nearby Points of Interest Norwegian American Museum Niagara Cave Lake Meyer Park Bily Clock Fort Atkinson State Preserve Luther College Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum In case you missed it, the headline on the front page read: "Trout Run Trail nears fund-raising goal." The story that followed explained how the Trout Run Trail fundraisers are closing in on their goal of raising $1.2 million locally for the 11-mile, paved recreational loop that will encircle Decorah. The estimated cost of the entire project is $5 million, and most of that money has been obtained through major contributions from the city of Decorah and Winneshiek County, in addition to state and federal grants, most notably a $1.6 million allocation from the Vision Iowa program. If things go according to plan, the Trail will be completed and ready for use by 2009 and its potential to attract visitors to this area appears limitless. If it has half the impact the bike trail in Lanesboro has had on the tourism industry in that corner of Minnesota, then Decorah and Winneshiek County will benefit for decades to come. When you combine that project with the accompanying Pave the Way campaign that is an effort to pave the 22-mile Prairie Farmer recreational trail between Calmar, Ridgeway and Cresco, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this section of Northeast Iowa could become a Mecca for biking enthusiasts of all ages. Joining the two trails is an obvious plan for the future, and hats are off to all those volunteers who have worked so diligently to make Trout Run Trail and a paved Prairie Farmer Trail a reality. What I like about both of them is their lack of demanding hill climbs that can discourage even the most ardent cycling enthusiasts. Both will be relatively flat and that ensures a good time for young children and senior citizens alike. Perhaps even a 57-year-old biker wannabe can muster up the energy to give it a go from time to time. It's good to have a dream. Epilogue Anyone interested in helping the Trout Run Trail committee reach its fund-raising goal and support the project should contact Mike Huinker at 563-382-1548, Mike Harman, 382-2020, or other members: Paul Hudson, 382-4512; Harlan Satrom, 382-8115; Keith Christensen, 387-1862; Larry Grimstad, 382-2840; Mark Donhowe, 382-3627; or Dr. David Bakken, 382-2230. To support Pave the Way contact: Calmar Pave the Way Campaign, PO Box 460, Calmar, IA, 52132, 563-562-3623; Cresco Pave the Way Campaign, PO Box 403, Cresco, IA, 52136, 563-547-3434; or Ridgeway Pave the Way Campaign, PO Box 42, Ridgeway, IA, 52165, 563-737-2233.
The Trout Run Trail project has been awarded a $750,000 statewide enhancement grant. Awarded through the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT), the federal funds will be used to complete the trail near Highway 52 leading to and through the limestone "cut," according to Lora Friest, coordinator for Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development Inc. of Postville, who wrote the grant application. The trail project has received regional enhancement funds, but this is the first award recognizing its impact for the state. "This project is important to the Decorah area, but it's also significant to the state and this (grant) really demonstrates that," Friest said. "The 'cut' segment will provide non-motorized passage allowing pedestrian and bicycle traffic to safely flow around the west side of Decorah. The Trout Run Trail is a 12-mile loop linking prominent, high-quality natural resources in Decorah and Winneshiek County, with recreational, business and tourism destinations and other trails to one of the most scenic areas of the state, according to Friest. Scored third The grant application scored third out of 27 applications in the state, according to Mike Huinker, a member of the Trout Run Trail fundraising committee. "Our hats are off to RC&D and Lora Friest for getting a job done so well," he said. Huinker said Stu Anderson of IDOT commented that Northeast Iowa is a natural resource rich area, worth the investment. The grant award brings the total raised for the Trout Run Trail project to more than $6 million, including 70 percent raised from gifts and grants in addition to city and county support. Friest explained the history of the cut in her grant application: "In 1950 the Army Engineers cut through the limestone ridge in the project area to divert water away from the town of Decorah into the Upper Iowa River. This water formerly ran through the town causing frequent flash flooding. In 1963 the Highway Department enlarged the cut at a different angle to build an open-spandrel concrete bridge that would allow State Highway 52 to skirt the town of Decorah." Friest said although residential, recreational and business districts of Decorah have expanded on either side of the cut, the narrow two-lane historic bridge is not conducive to pedestrian or bicycle traffic creating a bottleneck that requires vehicular travel. Completing the cut With the completion of the cut trail segment, residents and hotel and restaurant patrons south of "the cut" will be able to safely walk or bike to reach high quality parks, trails, trout streams, the Upper Iowa River Water Trail, recreational businesses and Decorah's downtown district north of "the cut," she explained. Residents and tourists including campers and Upper Iowa Trail users north of the cut also will be provided safe access. Because a portion of the trail will be carved out of the limestone bluff on the east side of the cut, it will include a dramatic feature, a scenic overlook of Northeast Iowa, the Upper Iowa River Valley, and the Dry Run River Valley that increases Iowa's appeal as a destination for visitors and tourists, Friest stated in her grant application. It will also increase awareness of the Dry Run Cold Water Trout Stream and the cut, and provide a close-up view of the historic Highway 52 open-spandrel bridge. "The trout stream, the cut, and the bridge currently go relatively unnoticed to visitors as they drive over them on Highway 52. The cut trail will provide totally new perspectives to these beautiful resources, giving visitors a chance to see the bridge and appreciate the open spandrels from the side, study the cut, and spy Dry Run's waterfall," Friest said. Diversity transportation Friest's application also recognized the city's recent efforts to partner with county, state, and regional, private and public entities to diversify the transportation systems in Northeast Iowa. This has included planning or development of several trails in Winneshiek County, including the Upper Iowa River Water Trail, the Trout Run Trail and the Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail as well as improved sidewalks and dozens of miles of mountain bike trails. "The Trout Run Trail, as it loops through and around Decorah, is one of the highest profile trails being developed in Northeast Iowa. It compliments additional pedestrian and bicycle transportation system enhancements planned to occur throughout Decorah and the region, providing infrastructure that will ensure opportunities for wellness and model rural community infrastructure that promotes healthy living to Iowa and the nation," Friest said.