Pulpit Rock Campground

If you love being by water and waking up with the birds in he morning, this is the place to be. The grounds have accessible camping for everyone included rustic and electric and campers. It also offers nice bathroom and free shower facilities. If you camp rustic, like I did, you camp right next to he upper Iowa river but don't worry because it's not too loud that you won't be able to fall asleep. For those looking for a nice morning hike as well, Pulpit Rock is just across the street and is makes for a beautiful morning hike. I highly recommend watching the sunrise with a cup of camp coffee there.

Easy access and tranquil

Decorah is so beautiful. The river is right beside the tent sites. Hiking trails close by. Caves and water falls only a short drive away. Tubing, canoeing, and kayaking services behind camp grounds. Super affordable site rates. Shower house. Picnic tables and fire pits at each site.

Decorah is worth the trip! BEAUTIFUL

City campground run by great staff. “Scott” was very responsive and helpful.  Managed to get our group together on a busy weekend. Sites can accommodate large coaches, pull behind trailers or tents. Clean bathrooms/showers. Bring your bikes! A quick bike to town to enjoy breweries, restaurants, ice cream and shops. Hike - bike or enjoy the river activities. You can rent kayaks or tubes just outside the gates of the park.

Something for everyone

I was there on a Monday and was the only tent around. Site 15 is the best for tent sites, it’s right at the delta of where two streams meet. It’s a quick bike ride to pulpit rock brewing and other parks.

Nothing crazy special, well kept sites

From someone who typically prefers backpacking and sleeping in remote areas, this campground facility, pretty much in the city, is okay.

  

The facilities are nice, bathrooms were clean. What I didn't enjoy was how close each RV site is. The sparks from our fire were making their way to our neighbors site.

  

The campground is situated next to the Trout Run Trail, providing quick and easy access to the 11-mile loop or in to the city center of Decorah.

  

Overall, decent for a city campground, but very crowded. The tent sites near the river look more spaced out.

Crowded, many RVs. Decent tent sites along river.

For us, this would be a three-star campground (a bit too crowded and noisy) but it is a mecca for families, and because there is so much to do so close to this campground, it deserves four stars. You could easily spend several days here enjoying the following:

  

• Walk to the city of Decorah on the Trout Run trail (about a mile) where there are shops and restaurants. This trail is over 10 miles and circles the city and is a nice multi-use trail.

• Walk to nearby Pulpit Rock (trailhead is about a five-minute walk from the campground)

• Explore nearby Dunning’s Spring and Ice Cave (a short drive away)

• Go tubing, kayaking, or canoeing. There is an outfitter a five-minute walk from the campground where you can rent equipment.

• Drive to the town of Bluffton (about a 15-minute drive) and another spring (Malanaphy)

• Many activities in the campground including a playground, basketball court, and volleyball net 

  

The campground is divided into two sections, separated by a pedestrian bridge. It is very close to Route 52 so you will hear road noise unless you are in the tent sites close to the river. Each site has a metal picnic table and fire grate, and the electric hookup sites are sprinkled throughout the campground, however, when we arrived, the person in the site next to ours was using our electric hook-up. Thankfully, we only needed a 110 outlet (which he was not using), so we were okay. When we arrived on a Sunday afternoon, the dumpster was overflowing, but it had been emptied by the time we got up on Monday morning. The restrooms and showers were clean. Check-in was smooth and friendly. Firewood is available for a reasonable cost. 

  

Because this is so popular with families, I would definitely recommend reservations in the summer (the campground was completely full when we were there)

Many nearby things to do

We've camped here for 6 years on Memorial Day weekend. So much fun

Best campground 

There was only one site available  when we made the reservation 3 weeks ago so it wasn’t a surprise that it wasn’t the best one in the park. 202 is near the south entrance, no level, very close to 201 (empty both nights) and facing 239 (they’d make good shared sites). Cell signal was good-2 bars most of the time. The campgrounds was mostly full (even fuller on the website, why don’t people cancel when they aren’t coming?) Our corner was quiet at night and noisier during the day as right behind the campsite is a favorite place to play in the water. Recycling was cans and cardboard only in separate containers in two locations.
The area is nice to visit! We rode the entire Trout Run Trail and loved it and visited Pulpit Rock Brewery, Toppling Goliath and the Vesterheim. High praise for all!