
Visit Casper Bluff to see commanding views of the Mississippi River and its backwaters and the only intact bird effigy in Illinois. This 85-acre site is archeologically significant and contains most of the Aiken mound group. Fifty-one mounds have been documented at this location, 38 linear mounds, 12 conical mounds, and 1 thunderbird effigy, but only 20 are currently visible. Casper bluff also offers excellent bird watching and trails suitable for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.