Pulpit Rock Campground gets ready for winter after a great summer of campers

There are still beautiful fall colors in the campground for campers to enjoy this week

Thanks to ideal weather this summer, Pulpit Rock Campground had a great camping season. Campground manager Scott Vande Krol says weather has a lot to do with how busy the campground is from week to week. "This summer was better than expected, I'd say it was one of our better years, the weather was good for camping," said Vande Krol.

Between out-of-towners flocking to Decorah to check out the latest Toppling Goliath release, avid eagle watchers, parents attending parent weekend at Luther College, and campers just getting away for a while, the campground was filled to capacity every weekend from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend this year.

The campground was so full this summer, the Will Baker soccer field was used for overflow, filling the grassy area with 15-20 tents on busy weekends. One couple just happened to choose Nordic Fest/RAGBRAI day to visit Decorah in search of the famous eagles. They traveled across the country from California to find a full campground. The staff let them stay in the parking lot the first night, knowing the crowds would thin out the next day and they could camp in an actual site.

For the first time ever, the campground offered advance reservations on 10 camping sites. Vande Krol received feedback from out-of-towners who took advantage of it, and they loved it. The staff is contemplating adding a few more sites for advance reservations next year.

There are about 30 ash trees infected with the emerald ash borer in the campground. They have been cutting down a few at a time and replanting new trees as the shade Decorah offers is one of the nicest perks of the campground.

The campground officially closes on Sunday.  There are already a dozen or so campers who are hooked up and settled in for the weekend, getting in their last camping trip to Decorah. The staff are busy winterizing, clearing out the water lines, and putting picnic tables away until next season.

Several campers were scattered throughout the campground this final week

The restrooms get closed for the winter months

New variety of trees are being planted to replace the ash trees

Will Baker soccer fields north of the campground