Malanaphy Spring Falls

One for the list

Is it plungeworthy?

—feet tall

A 2-tier waterfall.

Scale12/60

Documentation10/20

Character14/20

The details

Tiers: 2 drops
Coordinates: 43.35541, -91.83501

Get directions →

About Malanaphy Spring Falls

Malanaphy Spring Falls is a waterfall in Iowa. The water falls in 2 distinct tiers.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Malanaphy Spring Falls 3.6/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

The best all-around waterfall hike in Iowa. A spring bursts from a crevice in 450-million-year-old Galena dolomite bluffs and cascades down to the Upper Iowa River — a main ledge drop of about 10 feet, with the full multi-tier cascade system running as much as 60 feet down the bluff face.

The setting carries it: Driftless-region limestone bluffs, hardwood forest, and the river right below. This is a state preserve, so it's kept wilder than a state park — expect a real woods walk, not a paved path.

It's the anchor of the Decorah waterfall cluster, alongside city-owned Dunning's Spring a few miles away.

Getting there

Trailhead: Small lot on Bluffton Road: from the Hwy 9/52 junction in Decorah, Hwy 52 north 2 miles, west on Pole Line Road (W20) 3 miles, north on Bluffton Road 0.75 mile across the Upper Iowa River
Parking: Roughly 4-6 vehicles — fills on weekends, arrive early or go midweek
Road: Paved and gravel county roads
Hike: 1.9 mi round trip (Generally easy grade, but the trail isn't regularly maintained — downed trees to climb over and slippery footing after rain)
Heads up: About a mile each way along the river to the falls.

When to go

Best April through October. Spring flow is strongest after snowmelt and rain.

Midweek is noticeably quieter than weekends — the small lot is the bottleneck.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: Free — no entrance fee at Iowa state preserves
Dogs: Leashed, 6-foot maximum, per statewide Iowa DNR rule
Hours: No posted restriction beyond general preserve norms
Camping: None at the preserve
Warnings: Unmaintained trail — expect deadfall and slick rocks near the cascade.

Researched from Visit Decorah — Malanaphy Springs · Iowa DNR — Malanaphy Springs State Preserve · World Waterfall Database — Malanaphy Spring Falls. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Malanaphy Spring Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

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Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.