Updated July 2026
Malanaphy Springs Falls
A spring-fed series of cascades dropping over limestone along a bluff above the Upper Iowa River near Decorah, with reported total drop on the order of 60 feet. The Malanaphy Falls Trail runs about 1.9 miles round-trip with modest elevation gain.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Malanaphy Springs State Preserve (Iowa DNR) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
No measured height is on record for Malanaphy Springs Falls in the land-manager and survey sources this inventory draws on. We list it without a height rather than estimating one.
The Malanaphy Falls Trail reaches it about 1.9 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 91 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Decorah. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Malanaphy Springs State Preserve (Iowa DNR) for closures and current conditions.
Year-round (spring-fed); best flow in spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
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