Location: Follows the Mississippi River through Iowa, beginning in Louisiana and running through Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Length: 2069 miles (3332 km) Time To Allow: 10 days Description/Highlights/Points of Interest Experiencing the mighty Mississippi River for the first time is a memory few will forget. Looking out over the river, it is impossible to comprehend the complex layers of history acted out along its banks. From the Dakota, Chippewa and the Hopewell Indians and early French voyagers to the African Americans seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad, this corridor has played a major role. Through its charming river towns and metropolitan cities, historic sites and cultural artifacts, the Great River Road links resources, people and history. Suggested Itinerary Your tour begins in Lansing, home of Mt. Hosmer Park with a panoramic view of the river. Also of interest is the Fish Farm Mound (an Indian burial site) and the nearby "Our Lady of the Wayside" shrine. The next stop, Harper's Ferry, is 15 miles (24 km) past Lansing. The town is built upon a concentrated area of Native American mounds. The town was an important river town after the introduction of the steamboat. The Mississippi backwaters behind the town still attract hunters, trappers and commercial fishing. Just south of Harper's Ferry lies the Yellow River Forest State Recreation Area. This 8,000-acre forest contains some of Iowa's greatest terrain, with high scenic bluffs and cold water streams. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources harvests the Yellow River Forest timber for use all over the state. The Paint Rock unit of the forest houses most recreation opportunities, including, camping, canoeing, snowmobiles, hunting and fishing, as well as hiking and equestrian trails. Effigy Mounds National Monument, our next stop, is just two miles (3.2 km) south of Yellow River Forest. Prehistoric mounds are common from the plains of the Midwest to the Atlantic seaboard, but only in this area were they constructed in an effigy outline of mammals, birds or reptiles. The Monument contains 1,481 acres with 200 mounds, of which 29 are effigies; the others are conical, linear and compound. Eastern Woodland Indian culture built these mounds from about 500 BC to 1300 AD. Natural features in the monument include forests, tallgrass prairies, wetlands and rivers. The Visitor Center, located in Marquette includes displays of local Woodland and Mississippian cultures, artifacts, and a herbarium. Riverboat casino gambling is available on the Miss Marquette Riverboat Casino and Resort. Pike's Peak State Park is five miles (8 km) south of Marquette. This park boasts one of Iowa's most spectacular views across the Mississippi on the highest bluff along the river. It was named for Zebulon Pike, who was sent to scout placement of military posts along the river in 1805. A fort was never built on this land, and it went into private ownership. Since settlers were not able to build on this property, the peak remains as Pike saw it 200 years ago. Our tour terminates in Guttenberg, 15 miles (24 km) south of Pike's Peak State Park. Guttenberg boasts two scenic overlooks and a mile-long landscaped park along the river. A copy of the Guttenberg Bible is on display at the local newspaper. The city offers blocks of historic buildings.