Rate Effigy Mounds National Monument
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.
Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Monument
Operating Hours & Seasons
Summer Visitor Center Hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Extended summer hours for the Visitor Center from Memorial Day to Labor Day. All trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:8:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Monday:8:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Tuesday:8:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Wednesday:8:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Thursday:8:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Friday:8:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Saturday:8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Winter Visitor Center Hours
Our winter hours begin on the Tuesday following Labor Day and end the Sunday before Memorial Day. The hours listed are for the Visitor Center, but trails are open from Sunrise to Sunset all year.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:8:30 AM-4:30 PM
- Monday:8:30 AM-4:30 PM
- Tuesday:8:30 AM-4:30 PM
- Wednesday:8:30 AM-4:30 PM
- Thursday:8:30 AM-4:30 PM
- Friday:8:30 AM-4:30 PM
- Saturday:8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Additional Information View More
- Christmas Day:
- Closed
- New Year’s Day:
- Closed
- Thanksgiving Day:
- Closed
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $0.00 – Visitor Center and Trails
No fee to enjoy the Visitor Center and all trails.
About
No fee to enjoy the Visitor Center and all trails.
Sacred Space
The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument’s 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes. A visit offers opportunities to contemplate the meanings of the mounds and the people who built them. The 200 plus American Indian mounds are located in one of the most picturesque sections of the Upper Mississippi River Valley.
Directions
Located 3 miles north of Marquette, Iowa on Hwy 76.
Visitor Centers
Visitor Center
Park entrance is on the north side of Hwy 76 as it winds through the country hillside in Northeast Iowa. Be careful on narrow roads with little to no shoulder.
Weather
All four seasons are represented in this area with summer temperature in the upper 80’s with higher heat indexes due to humidity and winter daytime highs in the 20’s. Temperatures are in °Fahrenheit.
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Nearby Businesses
