• A quiet summer walk through the Marching Bear Group of effigy mounds

    Effigy Mounds

    National Monument Iowa

Schedule Of Events


Open the pdf calendar below for specific dates and times of ranger guided hikes, activites and programs.

2013 Calendar of Events

April 19 to 27 National Park Week
April 20 to 28, 2:00 p.m. National Park Movies
April 20, 1:00 p.m. National Junior Ranger Day
April 27, 10:00 a.m. Bird and Nature Walk
May 4, 10:00 a.m.Bird and Nature Walk
May 11, 10:00 a.m. International Migratory Bird Day bird walk

June 15 to September 2
Daily 11:00 & 2:00 p.m. hikes, walks or talks

June 8 & July 13, 8:00 a.m.Bird and Nature Hikes
June 15 & July 13, 1:00 p.m. Junior Ranger hikes and programs
JL 27 & Aug 17, Sunset Moonlight Hikes
Aug 10, 1:00 p.m. Kids' Archeology Day
Aug 24, 1:00 p.m Junior Ranger hike or program
Aug 25, (to be decide)Founders Day
Oct 5-6, Hawkwatch Weekend
Dec 7, Holiday Open House





 

50th Annual Effigy Mounds Winter Film Festival returns in January 2013.

 
Red Tail Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

NPS Photo

Special Public Events and Programs



Join us throughout the year during our large scale public educational events or special topic ranger-led programs. Bird walks, living history "Moonlight Hikes", Winter Film Festival, evening illustrated (slide) talks, American Indian cultural and archeology demonstrations are presented annually along with our largest attended event - "HawkWatch Weekend".



Hawkwatch 2012

October 6 and 7


Binoculars and spotting scopes are provided to assist raptor enthusiasts in identifying as many as eleven raptor species including Broadwings, Redtails, Swainsons, Sharp-shinned, and Coopers Hawks. Northern Harriers, Ospreys, and eagles can be included with all three falcons: kestrels, merlins and peregrines. A raptor banding station is staffed where migrating raptors are lured, banded, and released. The releases occur at the Effigy Mounds Visitor Center, so event participants can appreciate sharing the same air space with migrating birds.

Kid's Activities

A variety of FREE "hands on" activities, such as drawing hawk silhouettes, falconry knot bracelets and making owl masks will be available. So enjoy yourself and go wild!!




 
Kids on trail

Enjoy the autumn weather and scenery by hiking along trails leading through Northeast Iowa's premier archeology site, Effigy Mounds National Monument. There will be special events and displays during October, Iowa Archeology Month.

Did You Know?

Ellison Orr at Desk: Most of Orr's collections reside at effigy Mounds National Monument

An important figure in the documentation of Iowa's effigy mounds was Ellison Orr. Born in 1857, Orr worked other jobs while pursuing research in archeology. After retiring at the age of 73, Orr began a career as an archeologist spending the next 20 years conducting surveys and excavations.