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Effigy Mounds National Monument
Things To Know Before You Come
Yellow River Bridge Accessible Boardwalk Trail
NPS Photo by Ken Block
Yellow River Bridge Accessible Boardwalk Trail

The Monument is located in rural northeast Iowa, close to the towns of Marquette and McGregor, Iowa, and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. U.S. Highway 18 offers the only major Mississippi River crossing between Dubuque, Iowa and La Crosse, Wisconsin. All three nearby towns offer a number of interesting places to visit, goods and services - with Prairie du Chien (by far) the largest.

Touring the monument is primarily self-guided on foot* only along extended and relatively steep hiking trails. However, there are accessible trails, including trails to Indian Mounds, close to the visitor center.

* Walk or Hike means by foot (foot on the ground or trail surface; not on the pedal of a bicycle. There are no bicycle trails, or use of bicycles on the Monument's hiking and walking trails - or anywhere else within the Monument except as a mode of transportation to the Monument / visitor center parking lot.

A bike rack is available near the front door of the visitor center.

High impact recreational activity is limited at the Monument due to the sacred nature of the site.

Ranger led hikes and other activities are optional and available intermittently throughout the year; during the summer ranger hikes leave daily from the visitor center at 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM.

No Camping Available Within the Monument:

Please visit the chamber of commerce and county links below to locate numerous camping resources nearby the monument.

 
Marching Bear Group  

Did You Know?
In the South Unit of Effigy Mounds National Monument, the Marching Bear Group of 10 bear mounds, three bird mounds and two linear mounds represent the best preserved group of effigy mounds present today from the Effigy Mound Culture.

Last Updated: October 09, 2008 at 13:02 EST