Prehistoric mounds are common from the plains of the Midwest to the Atlantic seaboard, but only in this general area was there a culture that regularly constructed mounds in the shape of mammals, birds, or reptiles. The monument contains 2,526 acres with 210 known prehistoric American Indian mounds of which 31 are effigies. The others are conical, linear and compound.The park has eleven miles of hiking trails. No roads exist in the park. Rangers give guided hikes and prehistoric tool demonstrations, June 11 through Labor Day weekend. Educational programs are presented on- and off-site by appointment. There are no lodging or camping facilities in the park. An accessible boardwalk trail into the wetlands near the Visitor Center is available for disabled visitors and persons of all walking abilities.
About the Attraction
No visit to Allamakee county would be complete without stopping at Iowa’s only national monument, the Effigy Mounds. There are 210 known prehistoric American Indian mounds within the borders of the park, 31 of which are shaped in the likeness (effigy) of bears or birds.
The 2,526-acre park is divided into two units (North and South) by the Yellow River. Walking trails provide modest to extended routes, allowing you to select your route and view a variety of mounds. An accessible boardwalk trail into the wetlands near the Visitor Center is available for disabled visitors and persons of all walking abilities.
- North Unit: The two-mile Fire Point Trail takes visitors past the Little Bear Mound to the Fire Point and Eagle Rock overlooks, rising 300 feet above the Mississippi River. Guided tours along the Fire Point Trail take approximately 1 1/2 hours. Longer self-guided tours include the Twins Views Trail (three-mile round trip), the Third Scenic View Trail (four-mile round trip), and the Hanging Rock Trail (seven-mile round trip).
- South Unit: From the parking lot 1/2 mile south of the main gate, visitors can hike on well-defined trails through tall grass prairie to see the Compound Mound (four-mile round trip) and Marching Bear Group (four-mile round trip) in the South Unit of the park. The trail to the Marching Bear Group also follows part of the historic route of the 1840 Military Road.
Open year-round, call or visit their website for more information.