Effigy Mounds National Monument

Effigy Mounds National Monument

Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves more than 200 prehistoric mounds built by Native Americans including numerous effigy mounds shaped like animals, including bears and birds.

The monument contains 2,526 acres (10.22 km2) with 206 mounds of which 31 are effigies. The largest, Great Bear Mound, measures 42 meters from head to tail and rises over a meter above the original ground level.

Location

Clayton, Iowa
USA

Getting There

Effigy Mounds National Monument is located in the northeast corner of Iowa, about 2.5 hours from the state capital, Des Moines. The nearest major city is La Crosse, Wisconsin, which is about 45 minutes away.

The monument is accessible by car via Iowa Highway 76, which runs through the monument. The nearest airport is the Dubuque Regional Airport, which is about an hour's drive away.

There is no public transportation to the monument, so driving or taking a private shuttle or taxi is the best option. The monument also offers hiking trails and guided tours, which can be arranged on-site.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Iowa that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.