A visit offers opportunities to contemplate the meanings of the mounds and the people who built them. The 200 plus American Indian mounds are located in one of the most picturesque sections of the Upper Mississippi River Valley.
Photo: NPS Photo
Effigy Mounds National Monument
The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument's 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes.
- LocationHarpers Ferry, IA
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursDaily, Sunrise to Sunset
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Weather now61°F Clear
- Alerts No active alerts
Overview
Topics
- Animals
- Archeology
- Birds
- Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite
- Deciduous Forests
- Fire
- Forests and Woodlands
- Geology
5 more topics
- Grasslands
- Native American Heritage
- Prairies
- Scenic Views
- Wetlands
Things to Do
9 activities. Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
Facilities & Services
Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Other Visitor Services
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Visitor Center
Facility
The visitor center is open year-round except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day; during extreme weather conditions; and as indicated below. Because…
151 Hwy 76, Harpers Ferry, IA (563) 873-3491 Directions
Details
The visitor center is open year-round except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day; during extreme weather conditions; and as indicated below. Because visitor center hours may vary by season, the specific opening and closing times during either the summer or the winter season follow.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Daily, Sunrise to Sunset · Park Hours
Hours details
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Park HoursDaily, Sunrise to Sunset
Park trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.
Monday Sunrise to Sunset Tuesday Sunrise to Sunset Wednesday Sunrise to Sunset Thursday Sunrise to Sunset Friday Sunrise to Sunset Saturday Sunrise to Sunset Sunday Sunrise to Sunset
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Contact the park
Weather & conditions
61°F
Clear · feels like 59°
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Today
81° 61°
Sunny17% rain -
Tomorrow
73° 57°
Sunny20% rain
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Wednesday
64° 52°
Overcast19% rain
Updated 5 hr ago
What to expect by season
All four seasons are represented in this area with summer temperature in the upper 80’s with higher heat indexes due to humidity and winter daytime highs in the 20's. Temperatures are in °Fahrenheit.
Upcoming Events
10 coming up-
Fire Point Ranger Guided Hike
About
Join us for a Ranger-guided hike to Fire Point overlook! This hike is 1.5-2 hours, 2-mile roundtrip, with 350 ft elevation gain up the bluff. The trail is woodchipped and the hike has multiple stops along the way. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear. This hike will be cancelled due to bad weather.
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"Pop-Up" Ranger Program
About
“Pop-Up” programs are ranger-led activities or talks. These programs can be focused on a variety of topics and are ranger’s choice.
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Yellow River Boardwalk Guided Hike
About
Join us for a ranger-guided hike along the Yellow River Boardwalk trail. This hike is a 1-mile roundtrip that will take about 1 hour total. This is a wheelchair accessible trail along a recycled-plastic boardwalk to the Yellow River bridge. There will be frequent stops on this hike as the ranger will be providing information about the resources of the park. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear. Bringing bug spray is recommended
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Ranger Guided Marching Bears Hike
About
Join us on a four-mile guided hike to the remarkable Marching Bears Mound Group in the south unit of the park! This mound group features 10 bear and three bird mounds.
Please note the trail to Marching Bears quickly gains 350 feet on a loose gravel path before leveling off on a mowed path in the woods. The hike should take approximately 2.5-3 hours to complete. Visitors should wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring hiking poles, bug spray, trail lunch, and water. The trail access is to Marching Bears is located across the railroad tracks off Highway 76, 1/4 mile south of the headquarters of Effigy Mounds National Monument.
Show 6 more events
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Ranger Guided Marching Bears Hike
About
Join park rangers to hike to the Marching Bears mound group in our South Unit. Meet the ranger at the Day Use area along Highway 76 and the Mississippi River. The hike is approximately 4 miles round trip with a steep incline to get to the top of the bluffs.
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Old Military Road Guided Hike with Dr. Josh Wacuta
About
Join Joshua Wachuta, Ph.D. and park rangers to hike to hike the Military Road in the South Unit. Dr. Wachuta will discuss the relationship of this road to the Treaties of Prairie du Chien and the 1830 Indian Removal Act throughout the hike. Meet the ranger at the Day Use area along Highway 76 and the Mississippi River. The hike is approximately 4 miles round trip with a steep incline to get to the top of the bluffs.
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Ranger Guided Hanging Rock Hike
About
Kick off Native American Heritage month with a hike to our North Unit’s Hanging Rock and experience this sacred landscape with our park rangers. This hike is approximately 7 miles round trip with steep inclines and moderately rough terrain in some areas.
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Traditional Ho-Chunk Flute Making Workshop
About
Join William Quackenbush to learn about traditional flute making in Ho Chunk traditions. All are welcome to come to the Thursday lecture.
To register for the workshop please e-mail EFMO_information@nps.gov. The first 12 people will be accepted. These 12 people will select their cedar wood on Thursday November 5.
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Traditional Ho-Chunk Flute Making Workshop
About
November 5 | 6 pm Join William Quackenbush to learn about traditional flute making in Ho Chunk traditions. All are welcome to come to the Thursday lecture.
To register for the workshop please e-mail EFMO_information@nps.gov. The first 12 people will be accepted. These 12 people will select their cedar wood on Thursday November 5.
November 6 | 9:00 a.m. – 3 p.m. Registered participants will make their flutes and learn how to play them.
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Family Fall Hike & Nature Craft
About
Family hike along the Yellow River Boardwalk and then come back to the visitor center to complete a fall nature craft to take home. This hike is one mile round trip and is mostly flat with sidewalk and boardwalk.
Getting There
Harpers Ferry, IA 52146
Located 3 miles north of Marquette, Iowa on Hwy 76.
Mailing address: 151 Hwy 76, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146
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