EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPES. ENDURING STORIES.

Effigy Mounds National Monument

Sacred earthworks & Mississippi bluffs
Iowa
Scenic header: Marching Bear Mound Group in summer. · NPS Photo · Photo credits
TAKE TIME TO DISCOVER

Sacred earthworks & Mississippi bluffs

Woodland paths connect overlooks and earthworks built by Indigenous communities. Some mounds take animal forms; the setting invites thoughtful walking and attention to a living cultural legacy.

Bear Effigy Mounds with visitor walking nearby.
Marching Bear Mound Group in summer.
NPS Photo · Photo credits
Circular mounds in a single line.
Follow a line of conical mounds that will lead you out to Fire Point which overlooks the Mississippi River.
NPS Photo/ Eaton Cote' · Photo credits
BUILD A MEMORABLE VISIT

What to explore

  • 01Visitor-center interpretation
  • 02North Unit mound trails
  • 03Mississippi River overlooks

Before you go

Treat the mounds as sacred places. Trails climb from the visitor-center area and can be slippery after rain.

Give the place time

Choose a manageable walk, viewpoint or tour, and allow time for interpretation. Gateway areas help orient the visit; they are not exact entrance directions.

Make the details easy

Confirm the specific facilities, walking surfaces and vehicle access your group needs. Tours, transport and special access may require separate arrangements.

Official visitor information ↗Plan your visit →

Check the official source for current access, hours, fees, reservations, permits and alerts. Photos may show earlier conditions. Suggested highlights are visit ideas, not a guarantee that every area is currently open.