RV rental Effigy Mounds National Monument, IA: Motorhome rentals, camper van rentals and more

While you're here, you can walk freely on the grounds or take part in some of the staff-led programs such as guided hikes, educational talks, and demonstrations; for example, one type of demonstration offered is of the atlatl, an ancient spear-throwing device. Children and teenagers can participate in the Junior Ranger Program by completing an activity booklet that focuses on the American Indian tribes that lived (and still live) here and the area's natural environment. Pets are welcome on a leash. The monument is a good place to engage in nature and wildlife viewing. The landscape has numerous ponds and marshes where you can see a variety of amphibians; the leopard, pickerel, and green and western chorus frogs can be heard chirping in the spring. The monument's proximity to the Mississippi River makes it an ideal refuge for almost 300 bird species which nest or pass through the area. You can have a chance to view the red-shouldered hawk that nests on the nearby Yellow River floodplain. Great blue herons, great egrets, and double-crested cormorants live in the area's trees and can be quite noisy when feeding their young (making them even easier to spot). While many of the mounds require you to hike trails that can be long and steep, there are several mounds located near the visitor center. There is also a boardwalk trail that follows the Yellow River and is ADA accessible. The boardwalk was constructed from recycled planks and is less than a mile long, making it a relaxing stroll through the adjacent wetlands while protecting them from human traffic at the same time.