Bear Effigy Mounds with visitor walking nearby.

Effigy Mounds National Monument

Park Hours (Today)

Sunrise to Sunset

Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 4:30PM

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About the Park

The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument's 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes. 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.

Archeology Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite Native American Heritage Animals Birds Fire Forests and Woodlands Deciduous Forests

Pro Tip

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Visitor Centers

A building with flags hanging outside it with a vibrant display of the aurora borealis above.

Visitor Center

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.

9:00AM - 4:30PM 5638733491

Getting Here & Transit

How to Get Here

Located 3 miles north of Marquette, Iowa on Hwy 76.

Official NPS Directions Transport Info

Park Amenities

Accessible Rooms

Accessible Sites

Automated Entrance

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Baby Changing Station

Benches/Seating

Braille

Cellular Signal

Electrical Outlet/Cell Phone Charging

Fire Extinguisher

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Information

Information - Maps Available

Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present

Internet/WiFi Available

Operating Hours

Park Hours

Park trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.

MondaySunrise to Sunset
TuesdaySunrise to Sunset
WednesdaySunrise to Sunset
ThursdaySunrise to Sunset
FridaySunrise to Sunset
SaturdaySunrise to Sunset
SundaySunrise to Sunset

Photos

Circular mounds in a single line.

View from the air of a mound covered in short green vegetation with forest behind.

When to Go

Crowd Calendar

Plan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.

Jan

Low

Feb

Low

Mar

Moderate

Apr

Moderate

May

High

Jun

Low

Jul

Low

Aug

Moderate

Sep

Moderate

Oct

High

Nov

High

Dec

Low

Low Crowds

Moderate Crowds

High Crowds

Location

151 Hwy 76
Harpers Ferry, IA 52146

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Around This Park

Find nearby essentials on Google Maps.

Lodging Food Gas

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Best Time

Year-round

Trip Length

1 day

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Common Questions

Planning Effigy Mounds National Monument

These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.

Reservation policies vary heavily by season. During peak summer months, many popular national parks require timed-entry permits or vehicle reservations just to enter the park, or specific permits for popular hikes (like Half Dome or Angels Landing). Always check the official NPS alerts and recreation.gov before setting your dates.