Our photo travel log
We have nice winter in Chicago this  year for Christmas, some snow and temps dropping below -10℃, perfect for an afternoon winter walk in Jackson Park: around Wooded Island and to Japanese (Osaka) Garden
Joanna’s conference in Honolulu (ASPB) and few days of sightseeing on Oahu.
Effigy mounds are ceremonial mounds in shapes of animals, built by American Indians who lived in this area. There are thousands of mounds near upper Mississipi river. ☞ Effigy Mounds National Monument Iowa is a very interesting historical site with good easy hiking trails and great views of the Mississippi. ☞ Wyalusing State Park is just across the river. Good camp site, more hiking trails and half a day canoe trail through the wetland in the triangle between the Mississippi and Wisconsin River. Good weekend spot for Chicagoans.
Lidar of Marching Bears Mound Group
Effigy Mounds National Monument and Wyalusing State Park trail maps
Started by visiting Mammouth Caves for a day, drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway (stayed in Maggie Valey), hiked in the Smoky Mountains (4D/3N), camped at Indian Creek Campground (Cherokee Indian Reservation) and visited other sites in the NP, finishing in Cades Cove and Knoxville.
Our hike: Round Bottom/Beech Gap Trailhead ➜ Laurel Gap ➜ Tricorner Knob ➜ Pecks Corner ➜ Enloe Creek ➜ Round Bottom.
Loop from Round Bottom/Beech Gap trailheadClick on wikiloc logo to see more details
