DECORAH — If you own a mountain bike in Decorah, consider yourself fortunate.

The small college town in the northeast corner of the state is nestled into bluffs and hills that escaped a large glacier that grated across the rest of Iowa centuries ago, leaving a vast network of off-road mountain bike trails.

Josie Smith, a relative newcomer to the sport of mountain biking, said the thought of riding the trails terrified hergrowing up. Smith, a native of Waukon, 20miles to the east of Decorah, said she hardly rode her bike as a child.

Now she spends her mornings carving the trails, conquering inclines and navigating her way around tree roots, rocks and other natural obstacles.

“They are very natural and organic," she said.

"There’s not much man-made about our trails.We don’t take anything out that’s not necessary."

Iowa is not flat

Riders here are treated to awesome views looking down on Decorah and the Upper Iowa River from the bluffs.

But first they have to put in the work.

With more than 1,000feet of climbing, Decorah’s trails can be intimidating to the less-experienced rider.

“So many individuals, when they come to Iowa, they think, ‘It’s flat,’” Smith said. “With our trails, we have a lot of climbing involved.”

But, Smith said, the thrill of the ride back down is well worth the workout.

"You kind of have to earn your downhills,” Smith said. “They say that if you can ride the Decorah trails, you can ride anywhere.”

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