Effigy Mounds
National Monument

Prehistoric mounds are common from the plains of the Midwest to the Atlantic seaboard, but only in this general area were they constructed in an effigy outline of mammals, birds, or reptiles. The Monument contains 1,481 acres with 200 mounds, 29 effigies, the others are conical, linear and compound. Eastern Woodland Indian culture built these mounds from about 500 BC to 1300 AD. Natural features in the monument include forests, tallgrass prairies, wetlands and rivers. Visit our expanded website for further information about Effigy Mounds and its resources.

Visitation

Almost 100,000 people visit the Monument each year, twenty percent visit in October to experience the beauty of the fall foliage. Our lowest visitation rate is in December.

Location

Effigy Mounds National Monument is located in eastern Iowa, right along the Mississippi River. We are three miles north of Marquette, Iowa.

Address

151 Highway 76, Harpers Ferry, Iowa 52146

Telephone

(319) 873-3491

Operating Hours; Seasons

We are open daily throughout the year 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours to 6:00 pm June to September and weekends in October.  The Monument is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Climate and Recommended Clothing

Our summers are generally hot and humid, spring and autumn are mild with moderate temperatures, winters can be cold and snowy. Wear comfortable sportswear in season.

Transportation

The Monument has hiking trails throughout; no vehicle traffic is permitted beyond the visitor center parking lot.  To drive to the Park, head north via Iowa state highway 76, three miles from Marquette, Iowa or drive south twenty miles from Waukon, Iowa.

Single entrance fee is $2.00 with a per car maximum of $4.00. This fee entitles you to a week's worth of access to the Monument. Entrance is free with Golden Age, Golden Eagle, Golden Access and Effigy Mounds National Monument Park Passports.

Facilities and Opportunities

The Visitor Center, located at the park entrance, contains a visitor information desk, museum exhibits highlighting archeological and natural specimens, an auditorium and book sales outlet.

Trails and Roads

The park has eleven miles of hiking trails. No roads exist in the park.

Programs and Activities

Rangers give guided hikes and prehistoric tool demonstrations, Memorial Day through Labor Day. We have special events throughout the summer and autumn months. Educational programs are presented on and off-site by appointment. For reservations and information call (319) 873-3491 .

Lodging and Camping

There are no lodging and camping facilities in the park. Nearest camping is at Pikes Peak State Park and Yellow River State Forest (both eight miles away) in Iowa and Wyalusing State Park (fifteen miles away) in Wisconsin. Various primitive campgrounds exist in the area as well. Motel accommodations are located in nearby communities of Marquette and McGregor in Iowa and Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin.

Food and Supplies

Food and supplies can be purchased in nearby communities, Marquette and McGregor in Iowa and Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin.

Other Concessions and NPS-Managed Facilities and Opportunities

Eastern National operates a sales outlet within our Visitor Center with over 150 sales items relating to Native Americans, natural history and area history.

Accessibility

Visitor Center, museum, book sales outlet and auditorium are accessible to wheelchairs. Consult ranger at information desk for access to the hiking trails. A variety of activities are also available through our expanded website.

Recommend Activities and Park Use

The Monument staff invite you to explore our museum exhibits, view the film presentation "Earthshapers" in our auditorium, hike both the north and south units. Also, we have guided tours, bird walks, prehistoric Indian demonstrations and special scheduled events. We also recommend canoeing on the Yellow River and fishing on the Mississippi.

Reservations and Permits

We require no permits to enter into the monument, save the entrance fee. Reservations are required to schedule visits for educational groups and for evening moonlight hikes.

Basic Visit Recommendations

The average visitor will view our introductory film, and hike to Fire Point (hiking distance two miles). This takes approximately one and one half hours. The more adventurous visitor will hike to Hanging Rock, a distance of seven miles round trip. (allow three hours). A hiker into the South Unit to the Marching Bear Group should allow two to three hours for that hike.

Special Events and Programs

In summer, our rangers conduct a evening hike to Fire Point during a full moon. The distance is two miles and the duration of the hike is two hours. Call the Monument for reservations and information.
Autumn events include Archeological Week, held the second week in September, highlights various archeological programs in the Monument. Hawk Watch, held the last weekend in September, highlights the migration of birds of prey and raptors along the Mississippi River. Activities include special exhibits, live bird programs, viewing stations and bird banding programs. In addition, people come from miles away to view the splendid fall foliage.
The Annual Winter Film Festival is held every weekend in January and February and two weekends in March. Films highlighting natural and cultural history are presented in the auditorium.

Adjacent Visitor Attractions

Near Effigy Mounds National Monument, visitors can expect to find Pikes Peak State Park, eight miles south of the park, Yellow River State Forest, eight miles north of the park, Villa Louis State Historic Site and Fort Crawford Medical Museum in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Additional Information

Write Park Headquarters, Effigy Mounds National Monument, 151 Highway 76, Harpers Ferry, Iowa 52146, call (319) 873-3491.

Last update 30 April 1999
Effigy Mounds National Monument