There’s No Better Time Than Winter To Hike The Trails At Iowa’s Famous Effigy Mounds
The Effigy Mounds National Historic Monument is a wondrous place. Located in the northeast corner of Iowa along the Mississippi River, the park is laced with trails that pass more than 200 prehistoric mounds built by Native Americans.
The park’s incredible views and rich wildlife can be enjoyed in any season, but winter is an especially rewarding time to explore the park. Here’s why you should make plans to enjoy a winter trail hike at the Effigy Mounds National Historic Monument.
The park's views of the Mississippi River are especially dramatic in the winter. The bluffs here tower up to 500 feet above the river below.
In the winter, you can enjoy scenes in the forest that would be obscured by foliage in warmer months. It's easy to see details of the mounds, which are shaped like animals, including bears and birds.
The Effigy Mounds National Monument is home to many species of birds. It's in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, a major migratory route, and it's next door to the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. In the winter, majestic bald eagles are a common sight.
There are seven trails in the park, including four trails that are good for a shorter hike. You'll want to wear a good pair of winter boots and if there's a lot of snow, consider snowshoes.
The winter sun can be beautiful at the monument, and if you're lucky you may even see a sundog- it's a type of sun flare that can occur in Iowa this time of year.
You also might find some winter beauty down by the edge of the river, when ice flows create interesting natural sculptures you can only see this time of year.
