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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: OT Driftless area lodging
 
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rtallent
09/17/2020 12:31PM
  
Would like to visit somewhere in the Driftless (ne Iowa, se Minnesota, sw Wisconsin) in October for fall colors and some day hikes, using lodging that allows a dog along with the two of us (the dog seems to make a lot of park cabins a no-go). This site is a great crowd-source of knowledge, so I hope it is OK to ask for tips here. Thanks!
 
cyclones30
09/17/2020 01:31PM
  
Fern hollow cabin near Decorah allows dogs. If you're into organic foods, sustainable living, and honor system paying they're your option.


Lots of good beer in that area (Toppling Goliath, Pulpit Rock, etc). I'm not as familiar with the MN and WI portions. the root river areas are also cool in MN which actually isn't a long drive from Decorah. Gays Mills WI if you like orchards, Viroqua WI if you really like the organic foods and living style.
 
cyclones30
09/17/2020 01:04PM
  
I was thinking highlandville cabins (private rentals) but I see they say no pets....damn. I have a dog too so I get where you're coming from. AirBNB or something like that might be your best option.


Chimney Rock campground has a few very basic cabins that allow pets but I heard that might have been sold and closed? Anyone confirm? I called the number online and just rang and rang


Hutchinson Family Farm campground has a couple cabins and rents kayaks along the river, have cabin rates and availability schedule online. They are also a working farm and allow dogs. You'd be right along the Upper Iowa in a very cool area. (Decorah area is where I'm most familiar, which is where all my searching is at)

Trout River log cabin is a small 1800's cabin that's on an old farm site with walking access to a trout stream. Have to call/email to see if they allow pets

 
inspector13
09/17/2020 01:39PM
  

Strange. Just an hour ago a virtual tourism trip took me to Bixby State Preserve where the rare algific talus slope is accessible to the public. I wasn’t looking for lodging though. Searching for pet friendly cabin rentals on Google maps produced some hits, but when I dug in further, I saw no pets allowed in all websites I opened. Maybe a motel room? I see Best Westerns are pet friendly.


 
DownStrm
09/27/2020 10:21PM
  
The leaves on the Turkey River are turning and beautiful. Just finished an overnight paddle from Elkader to Garber. Check out the Old Motor Mill if you and your wife stay in the Elkader area.
 
DownStrm
09/17/2020 10:45PM
  
Chimney Rock Canoe Rental and Campground is closed for good. No Trespassing signs are posted at both the entrance and at the river. My son and I planned to camp there a few weeks ago but ended up driving over to Randy's Store Campground in Bluffton. Locals told us a lawyer purchased the property as a private retreat.
We had a beautiful paddle, anyway, but missed camping across from the cliff.


The damaged Cattle Creek bridge over the Upper Iowa has finally been replaced. Also, the damaged Chimney Rock bridge is in the process of being replaced. The new cement structure over the river was in place, but not close to being completed.
 
rtallent
09/18/2020 09:40AM
  
Wow! Lots of leads to check out. Thanks!
 
sns
09/17/2020 07:37PM
  
Have you looked at VRBO? I recall meeting someone out of the Ferryville area that owned a few properties...
It's all great - love the driftless. Viroqua, Decorah and Lansing are some of my favorites.
We own a farm in the Driftless - will be there this weekend.


And slightly related - the short documentary, "Mysteries of the Driftless" is a great way to spend half an hour.
 
DownStrm
09/17/2020 11:15PM
  
Ray, you might try The Natural Gate on the Yellow River. They have a number of cabin options. They cater to horse owners and trail riders. This summer, while running a canoe shuttle past there, a friend told me the state was no longer allowing them to access the horse trails in the Yellow River State Forest. I'm not sure if this is true, but there did not seem to be much activity, horse trailers, etc. there. They look like very nice cabins from the road.
 
Jackfish
09/18/2020 12:07AM
  
cyclones30: "Gays Mills WI if you like orchards, Viroqua WI if you really like the organic foods and living style. "
Thanks to Cyclones for the shout-out for my hometown of Gays Mills. After the multiple floods over the years, the town has changed so much and is a mere shadow of it's former self, but the apple orchards are on the ridge overlooking the town and the Kickapoo River valley.

Wisconsin's largest commercial grower of fine apples is Sunrise Orchards. Pick out some Cortlands or a variety of your preference. They're as good as they come.

In Viroqua, the Driftless Cafe is owned by a board member here on BWCA.com. Luke Zahm goes by "Kickapoo" on the board. Might want to stop in and say hello and have lunch if you're in town. Flash your Flying Moose logo. :)

Between Gays Mills and Viroqua is the Village of Soldiers Grove. Driftless Brewing Company is a small craft brewery that's located along Hwy 61. Their taproom is closed for sampling, but you can check out their webpage and see what's available for curbside pickup.

Good luck with your trip planning. The hills and valleys are beautiful when the leaves are changing.
 
scotttimm
09/18/2020 08:34AM
  
And Ray - if you do select Decorah - reach out to me - I can get you some trail maps and map out where some good fishing holes are ;). I'd imagine you'd love visiting Seed Savers, given your line of work.
 
scotttimm
09/18/2020 08:17AM
  
cyclones30: "I was thinking highlandville cabins (private rentals) but I see they say no pets....damn. I have a dog too so I get where you're coming from. AirBNB or something like that might be your best option.



Chimney Rock campground has a few very basic cabins that allow pets but I heard that might have been sold and closed? Anyone confirm? I called the number online and just rang and rang



Hutchinson Family Farm campground has a couple cabins and rents kayaks along the river, have cabin rates and availability schedule online. They are also a working farm and allow dogs. You'd be right along the Upper Iowa in a very cool area. (Decorah area is where I'm most familiar, which is where all my searching is at)

Trout River log cabin is a small 1800's cabin that's on an old farm site with walking access to a trout stream. Have to call/email to see if they allow pets
"


Chimney Rock is indeed closed, whether or not it is forever closed is rumor. My son is friend's with the new owner's son...they do not live in IA anymore - his take on it is that they are planning on making a lot of improvements and re-opening as a campground again, but who knows. The owners live in Montana now, and I don't think it is a big priority. Serious bummer.


Canoe Creek Lodge is just north of Decorah, super sweet owners and you can fish in their pond and stream that runs in front of the property. It is near Luna Valley Farm is right nearby for a weekend pizza night (no dogs there, though),
and you need to place your order early in the week to get into the special place. Twin Springs Lodge is also great, cool cabin very near downtown and Twin Springs Park. Many trails and lots to do in and around Decorah, especially if you enjoy trout fishing. Lastly, though I have not been there, Fern Hollow Cabin looks amazing and the owners are lovely. It would be like staying in an old log cabin museum.
 
sns
09/18/2020 07:46AM
  
Jackfish - had no idea you were from Gays Mills...small world. We take the kids to the pool there in the summer - our farm is just northwest ~15 minutes. Driftless cafe has been our go-to restaurant in the area for years. Driftless Brewing's Dirt Brown is one of my favorites anywhere - wish I could get it in the Twin Cities.


The Safehouse Saloon in Lansing is my kid's favorite for pizza, and the proprietor Nick keeps a surprising variety of beer on tap.