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 now67°F Overcast
- 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.
Weather
67°F
Overcast · feels like 67°
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Today
67° 56°
Overcast89% rain
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Tomorrow
59° 46°
Sunny5% rain -
Saturday
61° 44°
Sunny7% rain
Updated 4 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.
Contact the park
Upcoming Events
8 coming up-
"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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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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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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Iowa Prairie Network Guided Norh Unit Prairie Hike
About
Join the Iowa Prairie Network and the National Park Service for a guided hike through one of the finest prairie reconstructions in Northeast Iowa, Effigy Mounds' North Unit prairie. This unique site showcases the successful management of multiple objectives: preservation of cultural resources, promotion of biodiversity, and maintaining recreational accessibility. Impressively, these goals are met without the use of fire or grazing. It is a testament to what happens when humans become a part of an ecosystem, rather than mere stewards of it. This hike is free and open to the public, lasting approximately 1.5 hours with easy walking terrain and frequent stops to look at neat things.
Show 4 more events
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Book Talk with Dr. William Green: "This is the Route of My Forefathers: The 1837 Ioway Map"
About
Come join William Green, Ph.D. as he discusses his new book about the 1837 Ioway Map. Dr. Green will be joined by curator for the Iowa of Kansas and Nebraska Tribe, Reuben Noah, to discuss the No Heart map. This map was created by the Ioway during the removal to document their traditional lands.
Dr. Green and the late Lance Foster, former tribal historical preservation officer for the Iowa of Kansas and Nebraska spent over 30 years carefully studying this map and its significance for the history of the Iowa.
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Fall Colors Hike in the Heritage Addition
About
Come join a park ranger in an approximately 4-mile hike in the heritage addition. This hike is along the old county road with little to no elevation.
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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.
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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