Journey to Marching Bears

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News Release Date: July 14, 2017
Contact: Brian Gibbs, 563-873-3491 ext 123

Take the journey up to the Marching Bears mound group with a ranger on Thursday, July 27th. Marching Bears is a late woodland mound complex that is thought to be amongst the most important preserved effigy mound groups in North America. This invigorating four mile guided interpretive hike will take approximately three hours to complete. The moderately strenuous walk will focus on the lifestyles of American Indians who built the mounds between 1250-900 years ago.  

Visitors should wear sturdy walking shoes, bring plenty of water and meet the Ranger at 09:00 A.M. at the Marching Bears trail access located across the railroad tracks off Highway 76, 1/4 mile south of the headquarters of Effigy Mounds National Monument.Reservations are required and space is limited to 20 people. Please no pets. To register call [phone] ext. 123 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the park’s Facebook page for announcements on future Thursday hikes. 

Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves prehistoric American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds, including “effigies” or mounds in the shape of animals. The visitor center is open daily during the summer season from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and is located three miles north of Marquette, Iowa and 22 miles south of Waukon, Iowa, on Highway 76. For more information, call [phone] or visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/efmo.

UPDATE: Event cancelled due to storm damage to the South Unit on July 19, 2017. 

Tags: effigy mounds, ranger hike, prehistory, woodland period

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