Woodland Mounds

Location: 19587, Kirkwood St, Milo (apparently the comma in there takes you to the right one) 

County: Warren

Bathrooms: Pit toilets

Trails: Dirt/gravel

Mileage: 2 miles

Useful information: Nice hills and views. Part of the trail is in prairie/field, but most of it is in the timber. The burial mounds weren't marked and weren't as large as I expected them to be. The trails were also not marked and appeared to be missing the signs. 

From county website https://www.warrenccb.org/parksandtrails/woodlandmounds/: There is a special sense of timelessness in the timber at Woodland Mounds Preserve. The unique qualities of this beautiful wooded ridge above South River have been recognized by inhabitants of this county for thousands of years. Before European settlers came to this area, Native Americans lived along the rivers of Warren County. They were part of a culture of people who dwelled in villages located along most of the major watercourses in Iowa and the eastern half of North America. They did not leave a written record, instead they left a variety of their cultural objects such as stone tools, pottery and earthen mounds that help show us how they lived. Evidence indicates that these people lived successfully in this area for thousands of years.

One of the most interesting characteristics of the Woodland Culture was the construction large earthen mounds, usually found on the highest point of the ridge above the village site. The mounds are believed to have served either as burial sites for important tribal leaders or as some part of the religious ceremonies of the villagers. A series of conical mounds are located along the ridge at Woodland Mounds Preserve. A series of linear excavations of undetermined origin is also located here. The area was a sacred place to the Woodland people and continues to provide a link to those who were here so long before us.

When visiting this area and exploring the mounds, be mindful of their spiritual nature and remember they are protected by law.