The best camping near Effigy Mounds National Monument

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Effigy Mounds National Monument adventure.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Effigy Mounds National Monument

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🦫 Flutterby 🦋 Farm 👩🏽‍🌾

8 sites · RVs, Tents100 acres · Cashton, WI

Once a working farm, now a haven for wildlife and peace. Primitive, laid-back camping experience. Surrounded by Amish farms. Check out our full property for our dispersed campsites and additional photos. * 100 acres of rewilded habitat * Potable spring water * Creekside camping * ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 BIPOC, LGBTQ+ 🏳️‍🌈 friendly. All are welcome!

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Brye Cabin and Bad Axe Camping

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents140 acres · Viroqua, WI

Our family purchased this land for adventure. We would love to share our adventure with you. Groomed UTV/hiking trails on our property. Hiking access into Duck Egg county park with over 10 miles of trails to explore on 900 acres. Drive and park directly at our cabin nestled in the driftless. It is totally private on 140 acres. Watch the wildlife from the porch while enjoying a campfire. The cabin offers 2 queen beds on the loft, a futon and fully stocked kitchen. Outdoor bathroom with plumbing. We offer 2 campsites directly on the Bad Axe River with hike in or utv assist access only. Park at designated parking area. The campsite has fire ring and table and chairs at the site, firewood available for 10/night. 5 gallons potable water provided. Hike in or purchase utv assist to get gear to the site $20 both ways We also have a 'glampsite' which already has a 10x12 wall tent on a 12x20 platform, with a queen bed and all bedding included. 10 gallons potable water provided. An outdoor kitchen contains everything you need to lessen your packing for a total relaxed and spoiled camping experience, all paper products and cookware in stocked kitchen. Charcoal and grill, 24" gas griddle, 2 burner coleman stove with propane included. Glamp directly on the river. There is a separate picnic area with fire ring, picnic table and swing set for the kids! Pets are welcome! We do ask for a $20 pet fee at the cabin and glampsite as there is extra cleaning involved, thank you! Watch the stars at night and catch trout in the river by day! Heavin in the Driftless.

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West Fork Sports Club

9 sites · RVs, Tents19 acres · Viroqua, WI

Est. 1966, the West Fork Sports Club has been a special place for multiple generations of both local community members and people from across the country. Nestled in between two valleys with 3,500 feet of stream front property on the West Fork of the Kickapoo, we truly have one of the most unique campgrounds you'll ever visit. Having avoided glacial drift during the last ice age, the Driftless area boast beautiful valleys, bluffs and rolling hills that you won't find anywhere well in Wisconsin. We are an Environmental Conservation Club always accepting new members. A temporary membership is included in camping fees and goes toward environmental conservation work and maintaining grounds, free wifi, etc. Our 20 acre property boast 3,500 feet of stream-front class 1 trout fishing on the West Fork of the Kickapoo (a top 100 trout stream in the US). Our entire stretch of stream is fully improved and excellent to fish. We have a healthy native brown trout population. We work with a local school science program to raise and stock brook trout every year. We have resident Sandhill Cranes, Bald Eagles, Oriels, Willow Fly Catchers, Hummingbirds and many other avian species. Nestled between two valleys, we frequently have stunning sunsets. We are far enough way from light pollution to easily see the Milky Way Galaxy on a clear night. The star gazing is amazing and if you keep your eyes up at night, you're pretty much guaranteed to see a shooting star, if not multiple. The West Fork Sport Club is truly a special campground. We're a short 15 minute drive from Viroqua which has a lot of great local shops, the Driftless Café (Owned and operated by Wisconsin Foodie host Luke Zahm) and a fantastic farmer's market. We're 25 minutes from Wild Cat Mountain which has extensive hiking trails. There are also two great vineyards within 15 minutes. Even on a rainy day, you will have plenty of fun options.

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Shiloh Farms Treehouse

2 sites · Lodging200 acres · Mount Sterling, WI

We are located near the famous Gays Mills Apple Orchards. We have trout streams nearby, biking the back country roads, canoeing nearby, Mississippi River 7 miles from us, Historic sites to visit, like Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien, Pikes Peak and Effigy Mounds. We are in the Ocooch Mountains, so whether you are in the hills or valleys, you are always surrounded by the beauty that nature provides. We have a treehouse on our property that we rent out and offer the use of an updated outhouse that has been here for decades. We also provide an outdoor shower. The treehouse has a small Keurig, toaster and microwave. We have a 36 inch Blackstone griddle on our large deck for your cooking needs. Please wander over this way and enjoy what Southwest Wisconsin’s Driftless Area has to offer. You can bring your own towels, bedding, pillows, etc., but if you forget or don’t have room, I have some all ready for you to use when you come. Just let me know and I will bring it to you or let me know ahead of time and I will have it in the treehouse for you.

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Shady Rest Acres

3 sites · Lodging, Tents23 acres · Brownsville, MN

Once the site of the historic V.J. Fetzner Brewery from the late 19th Century. The land is now used as a hobby farm, honey bee sanctuary and nursery to a unique tree species normally not found in Southeastern Minnesota. Remnants of the brewery are still visible. Foundation walls outline the massive structure of the brewery. Nestled in the center of the foundation is the entrance to the sixty-seven foot deep cave that once held barrels of beer and can be accessed by canoe only. Hops have been located on the property and are believed to be ancestors of those raised to make the beer once stored in the cave. The pond that provides access to the cave was dug out in the early 1990's to create a fish out for the Spring Falls Trout Farm that used to exist across the highway. Some of the original brood stock still exist and continue to naturally stock the pond. It is not uncommon to see fish that are five to ten pounds in size. We do not allow fishing from our pond. The residents house is built to scale to the original brew master's house. While the house is only twenty-four years old it looks as though you have taken a step back in time. The name Shady Rest was given to the house by the Brew Master's wife. We thought it was appropriate to keep the name alive. Shady Rest Acres is comprised of twenty-three acres of beautiful woodlands and pasture that are protected forever in the Minnesota Land Trust. The pasture is home to Scottish Highlander cows, two miniature donkeys, five sheep, four goats, honey bees and a flock of chickens. Scottish Highlanders were selected for both their grazing and browsing abilities. They are very docile and make excellent pasture mates to the smaller species sharing the pasture. The cows are excellent forest managers. They clear out invasive species such as Honey Suckle, Buckthorn, and Barberry which can often be difficult to manage. A guided tour with the host can be taken to meet the pasture animals. The forest is comprised of many tree species. Some are unique in that they normally do not grow in this region of Minnesota. The yellow birch is a species normally found in Northern Minnesota. It's bark is golden in color and glistens when the sun hits it just right. We have a cluster of several yellow birch including one that is so big that the bark no longer looks golden but instead is grey and very rough. Years ago the largest of these trees made excellent wood for turning bowls. Blue Beech (musclewood) can also be found on the property. As the name indicates the bark is shaped like muscles. Songbirds and some other species will use different parts of the tree as a food source. Towering white pines also speckle the landscape. Mother pine requires at least two humans arm lengths to encircle the whole tree. She is a favorite resting spot for the barred owl. There is oak, elm, maple, ceders, poplars and numerous other species. Honey bees are an integral part of the landscape. We partnered with a friend and started raising honey bees two years ago in order to do our part to keep pollinators thriving. Their hives are located in the pasture where it has the perfect amount of early morning sun to get them moving and afternoon shade to balance out the summer heat. It is not uncommon to see them pollinating garden plants, trees and wild flowers around the property. One of their favorite feeding spots is the acre and a half prairie which offers a range of plants including big blue stem, wild indigo and baby blue stem, to name a few. Not only are honey bees essential to the food chain but they also provide a very enriching experience when they are observed moving about their hives. There is nothing more relaxing and fascinating than watching these amazing creatures.

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S-Camp at Turtle Head Rock

1 site · RV, Tent1 acre · Viroqua, WI

Hey there Happy Campers! We welcome you to our small slice of Driftless heaven. This private campsite is located in prairie land, surrounded by agricultural and wooded property (it’s quiet). Within a few minutes drive you have access to some of the best trout streams a fishing license can buy. You're also in close proximity to amazing hiking and biking trails, agri-tourism (apple pickin' good times!), endless photography opportunities, wineries, birding, stargazing and visits to downtown Viroqua! After a long day of adventuring, come back to this quiet retreat, make some brandy old fashions and enjoy the ambiance of the stars and crackling camp fire! This site can accommodate 2 large tents with plenty of room for a camp kitchen, fire pit and seating area. There is newly constructed composting style outbuilding (please read instructions before using it) and a camp kitchen table along with solar powered lighting. Firewood and other supplies are conveniently available in downtown Viroqua. Be sure to check out the various retailers and restaurants while you're there! Hope you enjoy the camp and we just ask to please leave it better than you found it!

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Keewaydin Farms Organic Getaway

3 sites · Tents200 acres · Viola, WI

Welcome to our certified organic farm. Located at the end of a dead end lane in the heart of the hill county of southwest Wisconsin our rustic sites offer you a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of our modern life. Our farm has ridge top views, abundant wildlife, and some of the best night skies a person could hope for. Our property is 200 acres and we have lots of nice hiking trails and place high value on the peace and quiet of our beautiful natural environment. This is a active farm growing fresh organic produce, cut flowers, culinary herbs and fruits. We also host on farm workshops throughout the year through our nonprofit called Driftless Curiosity. Visit our website at driftlesscuriosity.org for a full list of activities. Our farm is minutes away from Camp Creak a class A trout stream as well as an easy drive to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve and the Kickapoo River. The town of Viroqua is about 20 miles away with it's vibrant food scene and unique shops. Our sites are rustic in nature and spread out over our farm so you can expect a relatively private experience.

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Finally A Farm

8 sites · RVs, Tents28 acres · Richland Center, WI

The original log cabin is still part of the farmstead that originated back in the 1880's. The site was a family farm until around the 1940s. Also, the land was the Eastern banks of a large logging mill lake/pond 150 yrs ago, so the shoreline slopes do not allow campers in/out of the pasture areas. A popup would be feasible with a full size 4 wheel drive utility vehicle in river bottom/shorelines. Tents /Low impact camping are best. In 2019 a transition to Animal Therapy, Fishing Therapy, and Pastured pigs from New Zealand which originally were almost extinct because of their friendly nosey nature at times gets them into trouble. They graze on open pasture most of the year and rest in the sun next to a trout stream. Learn more about this land: We are a working farm with mostly rescued farm animals. Many of the animals have special needs here and live their lives as free-range animals. The river in the back is home to wonderful Brown Trout and smallmouth bass. Also at times, there will be a couple dogs being trained and worked with too. You select your location for your primitive camping experience. If any special needs for a person arise, such as cane, charcoal grill, camp lantern We keep a small shed with supplies even items like tarps, cots, sleeping bags, even fishing rods. The owner is a highly achieved angler that has been filmed for the "Discover Wisconsin" Television TV show. and is available for guided fishing adventures and education in the area for all species. Also, certain times of the year are excellent for wild plants and mushroom foraging. Note this is the Driftless area of Wisc. where no glaciers came through. We have bluffs and streams around every curve of the road. The Wisc. Rivers very close too and has great fishing as well. The neighbor of this farm also rents and performs livery service for kayaks, canoes on the Pine River. Many times of the year, fresh meats are sold right at the farm as well as homemade fishing lures ready for fishing adventures. Note: Many times I am at the river fishing or in the pasture planting and reforesting this former GMO corn farm after years of heavy spraying. With Maples, Willows, apple, pear, plum, oak while trying to manage the evasive plants too. Please understand rainfall, safety of small rivers/waterfront changes. If river front takes on water, camping is all moved from water edges. We do not allow any camper over 15 feet and you must have 4 wheel drive since we are along wet lands, if it were to rain 4 wheel drive is essential during down pours. Other vehicles park at the top of the pasture, in farm front yard and we transport all gear to the river front. Small low to the ground cars are not wise here as there are 4 rain water trenches in the bottom 10 acres the keep rain water draining to ward the river.

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Sleepy Valley Springs

1 site · Tent4 acres · Boscobel, WI

Notice: 7/17/24 ~ The flooding has receded and we are back to Hipcamping. We have some mud along the creek but the camp is ok. We lost one of our big tables though. Also we have mosquitoes. They vary from time of day/sun/shade/fire/breeze but please plan accordingly. 4 acres nestled bordered on all sides by thousands of acres of public lands. Hike the hills and bluffs for scenic views of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. Descend to enjoy the sandy Wisconsin River. Walk over to Knapp Creek and fish for Catfish, etc. One mile to the Wisconsin River for Catfish, Northern, Rock Bass, Flat Heads, Sturgeon, etc. We are in SW Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. Apple orchards, Vineyards, Cheese factories, National Brewery Museum, Mississippi River, all within 10-40 minutes. 4 great parks within 30 miles. Wildlife abound including deer, turkey, fox, coyote, beaver, muskrat, river otter, raccoons, squirrels, eagles, swans, yep fish of all varieties, etc. Fill your canteen from our natural spring to enjoy along the way. Pause to reflect beside the babbling brook. We do have chickens and 3 Guinea Fowl. They are fenced on the opposite side of the creek. Please be aware: the rooster crows around 0500. They are 300’ away on the opposite side of the main house. Audible but hopefully not annoying. That said we are happy to have fresh eggs available for your enjoyment. Add them in the “extras” at checkout or mention when you arrive. We have one nice medium dog who won’t likely visit.

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Tent camping on secluded 40 acres.

1 site · Tent40 acres · Readstown, WI

We purchased this property while on our honeymoon in 1996. We camped here often from 1996 until we moved to the property in 2001. We built our home and raised our two kids here. We have enjoyed spending time in the creek, hiking the trails and spending evenings by the fire. In addition to on-site activities our area has excellent biking of all types, trout fishing, kayak/canoeing and several Amish farms where produce can be purchased. Come relax... Learn more about this land: Forty acres of wooded property with trout streams and mountain bike/hiking trails on site. Wild life is abundant. Fire pit with some wood provided. Picnic table at site. The driftless area hosts beautiful gravel and road biking. There are two excellent mountain bike trails within 30 miles.

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Bluffscapes Camping

3 sites · Tents235 acres · Brownsville, MN

This 235 acre property, located in the Driftless Region, has been in our family for over 100 years. From the wooded bluffs there are beautiful views of the Mississippi River and surrounding valleys. We never tire of hiking in the woods, seeing many different kinds of wildlife, or seeing the beauty of nature in any season of the year.Learn more about this land:Wooded campsites on bluff top overlooking the Mississippi River. Hardwood forest offering hiking trails, bird and wildlife watching. Convenience store, public boat landing and Mississippi River Trail bicycle route within a mile of the property. You can either take a 20 minute hike to the campsite or if conditions are dry we can give you a ride in our Ranger for a small fee. The trail does get steep in a few areas and the hike can be strenuous for some campers. NO smoking or alcohol.

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Miss Rosie ‘s Retreat

3 sites · Tents7 acres · Viroqua, WI

Welcome This seven acre shaded retreat has privacy, water, an indoor toilet and 2 trout streams nearby. This is the unique former paddock and pastures of my beloved horse, Miss Rosie. After her passing I wanted to share this quiet peaceful place where all can enjoy, relax, breathe in all that Mother Nature has to offer. Plus a huge colorful flower garden for all to wander and relax with a gazebo, perfect for a morning beverage and place to watch the many Baltimore orioles, hummingbirds,( and feeders) and butterflies. All around are views of woods and agricultural land and a class a stream is nearby. Stargazing is also a must. Our country roads are perfect for cycling and I can accommodate larger groups The foodie scene in Viroqua is excellent, lots of outdoor activities in Vernon county

The best camping near Effigy Mounds National Monument guide

Overview

About

Effigy Mounds in Harpers Ferry, Iowa (not West Virginia), provides a fascinating tour of an ancient Native American site. More than 200 earthen mounds are preserved on beautiful land overlooking the Mississippi River on the Wisconsin border. More than 30 of these mounds depict animal shapes.

This sacred plot preserves a vital part of the culture of the Eastern Woodlands people. This group built mounds in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, most of which date back to sometime between 500 B.C. and 1300 A.D. Explore these prehistoric mounds thanks to 14 miles of trails throughout this wooded park. Some mounds are in the shapes of bears, while others show birds. One amazing group of these mounds has 10 bears and three birds, a formation archaeologists call the Marching Bears.

Hiking trails take you through heavily wooded areas and to a lookout point above the picturesque river. In winter time, keep an eye out for nesting bald eagles as they perch above the river looking for food. In autumn, fall foliage offers a beautiful reminder of nature's splendor. Scenic roads surrounding this area give you a Norman Rockwell-like view of this idyllic rural paradise. It's no wonder people have loved coming here for thousands of years.

When you hike through this park, please respect the sanctity of the mounds. Some of these may have been used as burial grounds.