"Come for the Comfort Stay for the Culture"

100+ things to do in Elkader

City-of-Elkadertransp100 + Things to do in Elkader, Iowa

  • 1   – Golf at Elkader Golf and Country Club-245-2230. 9 Hole Public Course. Open Apr-Oct.
  • 2    – Fishing –Public fishing areas include: Turkey and Volga Rivers, Bloody Run,  Sny Magill, Big Springs (DNR)
  • 3    – Canoe the Turkey River – Turkey River Outfitters, 245-3802
  • 4    – Play Tennis/Volley Ball or Horse Shoes in City Park- Open Year Around. Tennis Court Lighted.
  • 5    – Swim at the Municipal Pool in City Park-  245-1510.  Open Memorial Day to 1st Day of School.
  • 6    – Bowling at CJ Lanes –245-2460.  Open Bowling Fall/Winter/Spring on Fri and Sat Nights and Sun afternoons.  Summer by Appointment Only.
  • 7    – Hike and Bike Pony Hollow Trail –Begins near City Park at end of Elkader’s East River Walk and follows old railroad tracks for 4.4 miles. Open Year Around.  Also reference IA DOT maps for country roads to bike.
  • 8    – Tubing on the Turkey River – Bring your own tubes and put in and take out at your leisure.
  • 9– Horseback Riding with Whistlin’ Bit Saddle Club- Visit   www.whistlinbit.net for more  information.
  • 10– Hayrides/Wagon Rides – Contact Julie and Casey Brazell at 563-767-4850 or Linda Beck at Clip Clop Wagon rides and Carriage Service 563-880-0663 or email ClipClop@mail.com
    11– Carriage Rides – Contact Linda Beck at Clip Clop Wagon rides and Carriage Service (see #10 for info)  or Julie Kane at The Elkader Jail House Inn – 563-245-1159
  • 12   – Snowmobiling –   Trail begins at Pony Hollow. Obtain map of Iowa Snowmobile trails from DNR
    OSBORNE NATURE CENTER – Located five miles south of Elkader on Hwy 13.  Open 8-4 Monday-Saturday and 12-4 Sunday. Closed Sunday October – April 563-245-1516
  • 14  – Snowshoeing at Osborne. Workshop in February
  • 15  – Ice Skating on Osborne Pond
  • 17   –  Have a picnic in Elkader City Park or Osborne Park. Stop at Wilkes Grocery Store on Main Street or Fast TraK on Hwy 13 N for Deli Foods, Chicken, Subs, Salads and Desserts. Both open 7 days a week.
    18  – Archery –  Located at Osborne Park. 50 Station, 3D Shot Archery Range. Contact Roger Burns  563-245- 2711 for more info.
  • 19  – Walk the River Walk – Start at the Keystone Bridge on Bridge Street across from the Courthouse. River Walk connects to Pony Hollow Trail.
  • 20   – Elkader Public Library,  Jill Sanders, Director130 North Main Street
    Phone: 563-245-1446
    Mon. 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
    Tues.9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
    Wed. 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
    Thur.9:30 AM to 8:00 PM
    Fri 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
    Sat. 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
    Sun. Closed
    Elkader Churches (Sunday Schedule)
  • 21  – Catholic: St. Joseph’s 330-1st Southwest Elkader Mass 9:30 summer 10:00 winter Saturday 5:30 PM 563-245-2548
  • 22 – Congregational: First Congregational Church Elkader       200 1/2 Chestnut Southeast Elkader Christian Education 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 563-245-1226
  • 23 – Evangelical Free: Grace Evangelical Free Church 280 Reimer Drive Highway 13 Elkader 9:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Worship 563-245-1779
  • 24 – Jehovah’s Witnesses: Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses Highway 13 Elkader 9:30 AM Bible Education Talk 10:20 AM Watchtower Study 563-245-1038
  • 25 – Bethany Lutheran Church: 307-3rd Street Northeast Elkader 8:45 AM Sunday school 10:00 AM Worship 563-245-1856
  • 26 -United Church of Christ: Peace United Church of Christ Elkader 301 North Main Street Elkader 9:00 AM Bible Study 9:00 AM Worship 563-245-2126
  • Walking Tour of Elkader’s Cultural and Historical District
  • 27 – *St. Joseph’s Church 330-1st Street Southwest (Always open) 563-245-2548
  • 28 – Private Residences – *Davis-Kramer House 405 -1st Street NW
    * Stemmer House 113 Oak Avenue NW
    * Schmidt House 101 Oak Avenue
    * Price House 206 Cedar Street NW
  • 30 – * Keystone Bridge Crosses the Turkey River on Bridge St. Built in 1888 noted as longest keystone bridge west of The Mississippi River
  • 31 – * Elkader Opera House 207 North Main Street Built in 1903 and Renovated in 2003-famous for Opera House Players Performances – Elkader City Hall in lower level and Tours conducted Monday through Friday. 563-245-2098
  • 32 – Farm Tours – Contact ISU Extension office – Clayton County Extension Service
    120 S Main St  563-245-1451
  • 33 – Elkader Cinema –  108 N Main St  563-245-2666 state of the art: 3D & Digital
  • 34 – Enjoy Music in Keystone Park – Rhythm on the River – Check calendar of events at www.elkader-iowa.com
  • 37 – Osborne Nature Center and Clayton County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens 5 miles south of Elkader on Hwy 13   563-245-1516
  • 40 – Red Horse Fisheree – 1st Saturday in May – check Calendar of Events at www.elkader-iowa.com
  • 41 – Sweet Corn Days  Last weekend in July
  • 42 – St Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration March 17th every year
  • 43 – Antique Shopping at several shops in Elkader
  • 44 – Visit the Amish settlement  in the Elkport area about 15 miles SE of Elkader
  • 45 – Pedretti’s Bakery Corner of Main and Bridge Streets  563-245-1280 6 – 5:15 T-Fr  6-4 Sat.
    Experience our unique variety of lodging opportunities:
  • 56 – Camp in the  Elkader City Park City Park is located at 605 High Street SE. Open April 1 – Nov 1. Shower/Safe Room. Monthly rate $210, Daily $17, tents $10. 70 sites, water available and dump station adjacent to park.
  • Dine in one of our unique eateries:
    61 – Schera’s Restaurant and Bar Algerian, Mediterranean and American Cuisine. 107 S Main St.
    563-245-1992 Wed – Sat Lunch 11-2 , Dinner 4:30 – 9 PM.  Sunday 10-2 summer only.
  • 62 – Fennelly’s Irish Pub and Food – 105 1st St. NW  563-245-FOOD (3663) Open Mon-Sat 11AM Wonderful menu available at lunch and dinner. Try their delicious desserts.
  • 63 – Johnson’s –  916 High St. 563-245-2371  Open 7 days a week   6:30AM -10PM.  Sunday  6:30 AM – 9 PM Full menu available plus buffet and bar. Catering available and private party room.
  • 64 – Treat’s etc. – 110 W Bridge St.  563-245-2242    Monday – Saturday 7AM – 5 PM  Lunch, Gourmet coffee, ice cream and more
  • 65 – Drew’s Sports Bar and Grille 203 S Main St. 563-245-2541  Open 7 days a week. Lunch buffet, home made pizza, short orders from menu. Buffalo wings and Beer specials during the game. Music entertainment twice a month.
  • 66 – Subway  – 120 S Main St   563-245-2722  Open 7 days a week
    67 – CJ Lanes – 821 NE High St  563-245-2460   Bowling, lunches, homemade pizza, party room and  Lounge
  • 69 – Two – Mit Burgers – Downtown Elkader at the corner of First and Bridge St.
    Open May – October 4 – 9PM  Serving hamburgers, cheeseburgers and brats
  • 70 – The Burger Barn – 688 Sunburst Lane at Highway 13  563-245-3074 Open April – mid Oct   Tues – Sunday 11AM til ? in the evening  Closed Mondays Variety of sandwiches, broasted chicken and great ice cream
  • 71 – Visit St. Olaf Tap – 10 minutes from Elkader – “World’s largest tenderloin”
    72 – Visit The Irish Shanti in Gunder –15 minutes from Elkader –“World’s Largest Hamburger
  • Shopping
    73 – The Buttery ~ Mon. thru Sat. 9:30 – 5; Sun. 12:30 – 4:30  563.245.1406
  • 74 – Elkader General Store & More ~ Mon. thru Fri. 9 – 5; Thurs until 6; Sat.9 – 4 563.245.1799
  • 75 – Moser’s Pharmacy and Gifts ~ Mon. thru Fri. 8:30 – 5:30; Thurs to 8; Sat. 8:30-4  563.245.2530
  • 76 – The Backstitch ~ Mon. thru Fri. 10 – 5; Sat. 10 – 3  563.245.2967
  • 79 – Antiques on Main – Varied Hours
  • 80 – Carnes TV, Music and Audio ~ Mon. thru Fri. 8:30 – 5; Sat. 8:30 – 12
  • 81 – Elkader Floral and Gifts ~ Mon. thru Fri. 8:30 – 5; Sat. 8:30 – 12  563.245.2241
  • 82 – Ishman’s Jewelry ~ Mon. thru Sat. 9 – 5
  • 83 – True Value Coast to Coast ~ Mon. thru Fri. 8 – 5:30; Thurs. to 7; Sat. 8-4:30  563.245.2521
  • 85 – Stroll the new stores Elkader’s shopping district:
    Archive – 563.245.3429
    The Copper Frog – 563.245.9070
    Deb’s Brewtopia
    Sweet Addictions Boutique
    Whimsy Market – 563.920.7681
    Bridge St. Boutique – 563.245.3939
  • 86 – Holly’s Bridal Boutique – 563.245.1555
  • 88 – Shop at Wilkes Grocery Store 204 S. Main St. 245-2413
  • 89 – Enjoy downtown Elkader – Winner of Great American Main Street Award – 2001 and esignated as an Iowa Culture and Entertainment District.  Brochures available at City Hall.
  • 90 – Attend a Decorating Class at The Buttery, 118 W. Bridge St, 563 – 245-1406
  • 92 – Find Lover’s Leap???
  • 93 – Visit/Fish Big Springs Trout Hatchery off Gunder Road, 16212 Big Spring Rd.,     563 – 235-2446
    For Information Regarding Elkader City Park Activites #94, #95, #96, #97 below contact:
    Elkader City Hall: 207 N. Main St.
    P.O. Box 427
    Elkader, IA 52043
    (563)245-2098,
    Office Hours:
    Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. including the noon hour
  • 94 – Do the exercise program that surrounds City Park;
    95 – Observe Table Rock site of the first Independence Day Celebration in Elkader, and location where Declaration of Independence was first read in Iowa. Located in City Park
  • 97 – Horseshoes in the City Park
  • 98 – Observe training of Standard Bred horses by Dr. Dale Hein near City Park. Dr. Dale Hein – 563-245-1578
  • 99 – Enjoy annual fly-ins at Elkader Municipal Park and Emerald Valley Air Park
    Elkader Municipal Airport/Tegeler Aviation   Emerald Valley Air Park
    21193 Grape Rd. Hwy 13 South of Elkader (563)245-2899 or (563)880-2905
  • For #100,# 101,# 102 below : State Land may be available – contact: Clayton County Conservation, 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, IA 52043, PH: (563) 245-1516 Please Respect Landowners and State Hunting Regulations
  • 100 – Deer Hunting:
  • 101 – Turkey Hunting
  • 102 – Mushroom hunting in the spring
  • 104 – Candlelit Holiday Walk – 1st Thursday in December at Osborne Park – 563 -245 – 1516
  • 105 – Elkader Motor Cross Track Hwy 13
  • 106 – Visit dishntunes.com for all you need to know for food and fun in Northeast Iowa and SW. WisconsinCompiled by the Elkader Lodging Association.
    The Elkader Lodging Association is a collaborative group providing a variety of quality lodging  opportunities and support for the continued growth and culture of Elkader.
    * National Historical Register
    For changes/updates to this listing please contact Julie Dengler at (563)245-2820.
    Elkader Lodging Association