Effigy Mounds National Monument

Mounds Main Trail

Kim, Cash, and I explored the “Main Mounds Trail” at Effigy Mounds National Monument on 27-Oct-25. This is an area that I have known about since I was a kid, but have never visited. The government was on shutdown so the Visitor Center was not open but the flags from the indigenous nations represented in this area were displayed outside and set a tone of respect for the culture we were about to experience. The trail begins with a steep climb to a “plateau” with several beautiful overlooks of the Mississippi River as well as impressive animal shaped burial mounds. We did not quite hit peak fall colors but it was still a beautiful hike through the hardwoods. We hope to come back when the Visitor Center is open, the colors are at peak, and we have enough time to explore the other trails. Note that, out of respect, I do not show any pictures of the mounds

Walk-Specific Map

Take Note
  • Click on a segment to get specific information.
  • Numeric labels correspond to the same labels in the elevation profile and summary information below.

Elevation Profile

Images

GPX Download

A sanitized GPX file of our hike is here.

Summary Information

NUM trackID Primary Description Type Distance CumDist DeltaElev
1 IAEFFM01 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Visitor Center to Eagle Rock Tr Trail 0.40 0.40 213
2 IAEFFM02 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Main Tr to Eagle Rock Overlook Trail 0.20 0.60 -37
3 IAEFFM03 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Eagle Rock Overlook to Fire Point Overlook Trail 0.28 0.89 76
4 IAEFFM04 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Fire Point Overlook to Eagle Point Tr Trail 0.19 1.08 -1
5 IAEFFM06 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Fire Point Tr to Fire Point Trail 0.22 1.30 -5
6 IAEFFM07 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Fire Point to Twin Views Tr Trail 0.27 1.57 23
7 IAEFFM08 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Main Tr to Split to Twin Views Trail 0.11 1.68 -55
8 IAEFFM08A Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Twin Views Tr to Twin Views South Trail 0.03 1.71 13
9 IAEFFM08A Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Twin Views South to Twin Views Tr Trail 0.03 1.73 -13
10 IAEFFM08B Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Twin Views Tr to Twin Views North Trail 0.03 1.76 1
11 IAEFFM08B Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Twin Views North to Twin Views Tr Trail 0.03 1.79 -1
12 IAEFFM08 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Split to Twin Views to Main Tr Trail 0.11 1.90 55
13 IAEFFM09 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Twin Views Tr to Third Scenic View Tr Trail 0.30 2.20 -5
14 IAEFFM10 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Main Tr to Third Scenic View Trail 0.23 2.43 -27
15 IAEFFM10 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Third Scenic View to Main Tr Trail 0.23 2.66 27
16 IAEFFM09 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Third Scenic View Tr to Twin Views Tr Trail 0.30 2.96 5
17 IAEFFM07 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Twin Views Tr to Fire Point Trail 0.27 3.23 -23
18 IAEFFM06 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Fire Point to Fire Point Tr Trail 0.22 3.45 5
19 IAEFFM05 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Fire Point Tr to Eagle Rock Tr Trail 0.32 3.78 -37
20 IAEFFM01 Effigy Mounds Natonal Monument Eagle Rock Tr to Visitor Center Trail 0.40 4.18 -213