School children taking a tour during a school visit at Mound City Group in the springtime.
NPS Photo / Tom Engberg
Half-day, Full-day, Multiple Days?
Looking for some help so you can plan your trip before you arrive to the park? You've found the right place then! Here, we'll offer suggestions on what you can do for a half-day, or you can make it into a full-day. Have more time you can spend at the park? These ideas are even better when you can add more time for each destination. So have a look at these trip ideas and get planning. But be forewarned, because once you arrive to the park and begin to explore, you'll be bound to want to extend your visit so you can soak up as much of this incredible story as you can!
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Although these Trip Ideas are fantastic in helping you plan an upcoming trip, they are also meant to assist those who may have just arrived at the park and are looking for some assistance on planning their visit. Please keep in mind, these Trip Ideas are meant to be suggestions on ways you can plan your day(s) at the park and in no way obligate any visitor to stick to the exact itinerary.
Topics:Animals, Archeology, Arts, Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite, Explorers and Expeditions, Forests and Woodlands, Military, US Army, Native American Heritage, Trails, Transportation, Canals, Wars and Conflicts, World War I
Activities:Junior Ranger Program, Park Film
If you're like most visitors, a trip to the park usually means just a few hours to spend. While we always recommend a full day or even longer, we want to help you plan your visit so you can maximize your enjoyment and learning. We encourage visitors to browse the park's website and to call ahead as you plan your visit. We also want to provide recommended things to do in the event that you can't sit down to plan everything out, so we hope this helps you in your planning.
Topics:Archeology, Native American Heritage, Night Sky, Scenic Views, Foothills, Plains and Valleys
Activities:Hiking, Front-Country Hiking
While many of the original Hopewell sites have long been lost to agriculture and development, we still have a few that have been preserved and are now part of the park. Take time to hike and walk around these sites and learn about how these mysterious people built these enormous earthen monuments over two thousand years ago. Walking these sites will give one a new appreciation of just how massive of a job it was to construct these special places.
Topics:Animals, Archeology, Arts, Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite, Explorers and Expeditions, Forests and Woodlands, Military, US Army, Native American Heritage, Trails, Transportation, Canals, Wars and Conflicts, World War I
Activities:Junior Ranger Program, Park Film
If you happen to visit the park on a not-so-ideal weather day or if you don't want to venture outside on a rainy, snowy or cold day, there's plenty to do indoors at the park. Visitors will find a nice and warm building which houses the park's interpretive film. Guests can also engage their kids with the Junior Ranger program. Much of the booklet can be accomplished indoors. Just ask a ranger!
