Decorah

Spend a relaxing vacation camping and hiking in the scenic surroundings of Decorah.

Find & reserve the best cabins near Decorah, Iowa with pets. Tent, cabin & RV camp on private & State Parks, on local farms, vineyards & nature preserves.

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Gilles Family Dairy & Woodland

Welcome ; Located in southeast Minnesota's Driftless region of hills, valleys, fields and forests, we are a grass based working dairy farm with over 100 acres of woodland,
including an extensive trail system and campsites in our wooded acres. What makes this woodland special is it's quiet, secluded setting and over 6 miles of hiking / skiing trails.

Our farmstead sits three quarter of a mile off the paved county highway on our well maintained gravel driveway.

Each of our campsites are secluded from the others with their own sawdust compost toilets, picnic tables, fireplaces, and firewood.

Two of our sites require 4WD with a minimum of 6 inches ground clearance
to access, and two are accessible with 2WD.

If you do not have 4WD we can help transport your gear while you enjoy the walk in.

There are plenty of woodland birds, deer, turkeys, raccoons and squirrels sharing the woods with you. At night it is common for owls to visit the campsite area to say hello, and coyotes talking in the distance. The winding trails through 100 acres of woodland offer a variety of woodland habitats, from Old growth Maple to mixed hardwood, to dense brush, to the edges of open pastureland. Bring your fat bike or mountain bike for an enjoyable ride.

For winter users there is a mix of easy, moderate, and challenging winter cross country skiing
 or snowshoeing / hiking
on the property. However the Rock Bottom Cabin  is our only heated and insulated site and is available for winter booking. Winter access is walk in only with snow on the ground or in the forecast. We can help transport gear.

This property is part of a working pasture-based dairy farm and guided tours of the dairy and cattle are available when scheduling allows.

Children 12 and younger are free at our campsites.
No need to be counted as guests , but please let us know when requesting to book.

We do not allow non-booked visitors to our campsites due to the secluded, remote location, and accessibility.

Electricity Hookup

Showers

Wifi

Ranch Retreat Camping

Our ranch has been in our family for 16 years and, before that, belonged to one family for over 200 years.

 Jolene (me, - owner)

and my two sons, Riley and Logan, put a lot of time and dedication into our ranch. Our ranch is located on

40 acres where anyone can find their little piece of “peace.” We pride ourselves on taking excellent care of our guests and making them feel at home when they step onto our land.

We will do our best to accommodate your needs in any way possible.

Our WIFI is not always 100% reliable. If you need WIFI during your stay, please bring another option with you, such as a hotspot on your cell phone, in case ours is not dependable.

From the crew who loves to share a little piece of our life on Stone Roller Road,

– Jolene, Riley, Logan, Scotch (the yellow lab), Hops (the chocolate lab), and Scrappy (the late ranch dog)

Cooking equipment

Cedar Springs

THE PROPERTY:
Cedar Springs includes wooded forest terrain, pasture, an old limestone quarry, and high bluffs with beautiful views. This historic property has multiple elevations and geological features which make it a truly special & unique location. The quarry below the lodgings forms a natural amphitheater with amazing acoustics and has an extra large bonfire pit and two additional fire pits. The quarry space is available for all guests to enjoy except when privately reserved. There are hiking trails, an 1800’s limestone home and scenic bridge which make for great exploring and photo opportunities. Also, if you love art you will enjoy discovering the series of 19 elevated stained glass sculpture panels installed throughout the property.

Secluded spot all to yourself 1 mile off the road. 4x4 when conditions allow or hike ATV or UTV back.

The Back 20

The Back 20 is is a cute and secluded place to rough it. Completely private half mile off the road. Please read entirety of description and how to access property before booking.The Back 20 is an ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK PROPERTY!!!!! There is uneven ground/terrain, trip hazards, valleys, loose stone, brush hazard to vehicles, no way for emergency vehicles to enter this property successfully type of hazards. We are not responsible for any injury/death you or your guests may incur while navigating property and by entering property you agree to such terms. This is a No Trespassing without permission property.&nbsp;Access To&nbsp;the Back 20: This is a HIKE IN ONLY PROPERTY!&nbsp;You are also welcome to ATV or&nbsp;Snomobile back there. Cabin is half mile off road, be prepared in case of inclement weather or tough conditions for the hike. There is parking area located just off the road before the trail starts to right.No HUNTING without permission!!! We manage this land properly for all hunters and non hunters to enjoy. That being said no hunting will be allowed on property of any sort unless you have prior permission. Guests caught hunting without permission will be considered Trespassers.This is a Dry cabin. There is no water on property. In warm conditions the water barrels may/may not be full. Feel free to use the water from them for dishes or bathing outside. It is not drinkable water and bringing your own drinking water in is necessary.&nbsp;There is an outhouse and a small boat toilet in the home. We prefer you to use the outhouse overall. If use inside toilet, you must rinse it outside and clean before leaving. No exceptions.Learn more about this land:Enrich yourself in this private retreat nestled away from the road within a beautiful hardwood valley. No internet, no tv, limited cell service with property..Deer, Fox, coyote, and eagles are just a small amount of wildlife you will see here. Great for a weekend unplugged to relax among the stars. Small dry cabin with 1 queenbed,  and&nbsp;two cots with sleeping bags. Room for extra tents as well. Pit toilet with outside shower available in summer. Nearby trout stream 1 mile away. Cute and comfy spot to unwind and unplug. Bring your flashlight! It’s dark back here but oh the stars you’ll see on a clear night! Solar power will keep your phone charged in case of emergency. Large deck with picnic table and no one around. Completely private! Great spot to be in nature. Clothing optional!This property is like camping with a cabin. You will need to bring pots pans dishes cutlery as it is not provided.. Wood stove heat in winter. Must bring your own wood or scavenge on land.  Very homey and wonderful way to rough it!

Dogs allowed off leash! Bring your furry friend!

Nestled in a natural valley of 20 acres near the Root River. 

Legacy Landing

Formerly the Mederville Wildlife Club, this land is situated on the north side of the hill and is accessible by a very rough “B” road. 

The property features two stocked fishing ponds, a vineyard, and trails for hiking, photography, mushroom hunting, and birdwatching. There’s a fire pit for campfires — and more stars than can be counted. It’s secure and very private.

Kickapoo Cabin- Unavailable

This beautifully renovated Amish-style log cabin is situated on the Kickapoo River. There are two tent sites, one RV spot and the main cabin right alongside a garden and coop.  The property itself is an active homestead, with the lower section open to hosting guests.

Picnic table

Shady Rest Acres

Once the site of the historic V.J. Fetzner Brewery from the late 19th Century. The land is now used as a hobby farm, honey bee sanctuary and nursery to a unique tree species normally not found in Southeastern Minnesota.

Remnants of the brewery are still visible. Foundation walls outline the massive structure of the brewery. Nestled in the center of the foundation is the entrance to
the sixty-seven foot deep cave that
once held barrels of beer and can be accessed by canoe only. 
Hops have been located on the property and are believed to be ancestors of those raised to make the beer once stored in the cave. The pond that provides access to the cave was dug out in the early 1990's to create a fish out for the Spring Falls Trout Farm that used to exist across the highway. Some of the original brood stock still exist and continue to naturally stock the pond. It is not uncommon to see fish that are five to ten pounds in size. We do not allow fishing from our pond.

The residents house is built to scale to the original brew master's house. While the house is only twenty-four years old it looks as though you have taken a step back in time. The name Shady Rest was given to the house by
the Brew Master's wife.
We thought it was appropriate to keep the name alive.

Shady Rest Acres is comprised of twenty-three acres of beautiful woodlands and pasture that are protected forever
in the
Minnesota Land Trust. The pasture is home to Scottish Highlander cows, two miniature donkeys, five sheep, four goats, honey bees and a flock of chickens. Scottish Highlanders
were selected for both their grazing and browsing abilities. They are very docile and make excellent pasture mates to the smaller species sharing the pasture. The cows are excellent forest managers. They
clear out invasive species such as Honey Suckle, Buckthorn, and Barberry which can often be difficult to manage. A guided tour with the host can be taken to meet the pasture animals.

The forest is comprised of many tree species. Some are unique in that they normally do not grow in this region of Minnesota. The yellow birch is a species normally found in Northern Minnesota. It's bark is golden in color and glistens when the sun hits it just right. We have a cluster of several yellow birch including one that is so big that the bark no longer looks golden but instead is grey and very rough. Years ago the largest of these trees made excellent wood for turning bowls. Blue Beech (musclewood) can also be found on the property. As the name indicates the bark is shaped like muscles. Songbirds and some other species will use different parts of the tree as a food source. Towering white pines also speckle the landscape. Mother pine requires at least two humans arm lengths to encircle the whole tree. She is a favorite resting spot for the barred owl. There is oak, elm, maple, ceders, poplars and numerous other species.

Honey bees are an integral part of the landscape. We partnered with a friend and
started raising honey bees two years ago in order to do our part to keep pollinators thriving.

Their hives are located in the pasture where it has the perfect amount of early morning sun to get them moving and afternoon shade to balance out the summer heat. It is not uncommon to see them pollinating garden plants, trees and wild flowers around the property. One of their favorite feeding spots is the acre and a half prairie which offers a range of plants including big blue stem, wild indigo and baby blue stem, to name a few. Not only are honey bees essential to the food chain but they also provide a very enriching experience when they are observed moving about their hives. There is nothing more relaxing and fascinating than watching these amazing creatures.

We got to hold baby ducks (with supervision)! 

The children (with guidance) were able to gather fresh eggs for our breakfast!

Ginny and Tonic, the resident donkeys, love treats!

Campsite 1 has a large clearing with a beautiful tree in the middle.

Bluffscapes Camping

This 235 acre property, located in the Driftless Region, has been in our family for over 100 years.
 From the wooded bluffs there are beautiful views of the Mississippi River and surrounding valleys.
 We never tire of hiking in the woods, seeing many different kinds of wildlife, or seeing the beauty of nature in any season of the year.

Learn more about this land:

Wooded campsites on bluff top overlooking the  Mississippi River.  Hardwood forest offering hiking trails, bird and wildlife watching.  Convenience store, public boat landing and Mississippi River Trail bicycle route within a mile of the property.&nbsp; You can either take a 20 minute hike to the campsite or if conditions are dry we can give you a ride in our Ranger for a small fee. The trail does get steep in a few areas and the hike can be strenuous for some campers.&nbsp;NO smoking or alcohol.

Make sure this gate stays latched after you go in or out. It keeps the cattle where they're supposed to be. ;)

It was a pleasant surprise to find a lone cow taking a little dip on our hike out of camp.

The fire pit has enough space and seating for a handful of campers.. or just one or two.

Under the tree seemed to be the most level place to set up. The campsite is large but a bit slanted... since it's on a bluff. ;) 

You can travel with tables and seating or use the available logs and rocks to prepare your meals or morning coffee. 

2 city lots in Fillmore MN.

Learn more about this land:It’s a place to park and camp a mile away from fishing, swimming, kayaking, biking (bring own fishing equipment, kayaks, bikes) 16 min drive from historic Forestville. 
 a good place to just get away sit around a fire and have good times with friends. 


Water Hookup

Sewage Hookup

Relax near the Mississippi

There is a great paved pad to park on. It accommodated my van very well! 

We set up the hammock on some trees in the camping area! 

There is electricity here, which is a great perk!

Plenty of table space to create a breakfast station!

Enjoying some quiet moments before the start of the day!

Loved using the table to set up a coffee making station! 

Great views of bluffs behind our campround!

This post had my name on it and was used to mark the spot!

Thankful for this picnic table to enjoy some oatmeal and coffee!

Gossman Goat Ranch

We have a lovely piece of property to come enjoy a getaway at.  We enjoy all of the peace and quiet around here. The night sky is unbeatable in my eyes. We have a small hobby farm with lots of very tame animals. We have 42 acres to roams with lots of trails within the woods that are filled with aged oak trees and many young maple trees. Our property is filled with lots of wild flowers and wildlife.  

We are locate 3 miles from the root river if you enjoy fishing or going for a float down the river. There are two caves in our area that are a must see while you are visiting. I you like to hike there is a state park 14 minutes from us that have many miles of hiking trails and horse trails. 

If you are more the small town strolling type of person we have lots of small towns around us that are filled with shops and lots of great food! There is a large system of bike trails in our area that make a very fun way to check out some of the small towns. 

If you have a family with kids we have a lot of fun activities you can do with your kids, like spending time with the goats and chickens, playing on our playground, or taking a nice walk through the woods looking for fossils!

We do offer a 5% discount to military members and first responders! Please bring proof of service and use code 7R78I5SU on booking.  Thank you for your service! 

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