Poverty Point World Heritage Site
Epps, LA
Massive earthen ridges and mounds built by a hunter-gatherer society thousands of years ago, now a UNESCO site. Take the tram or the driving loop, and climb the large mound for the view over the flat delta fields.
Poverty Point in northeastern Louisiana was built, as far as we now know, between about 1700 and 1100 BC and is regarded as one of the largest and most complex settlements of the Late Archaic period in North America. It was built by hunter-fisher-gatherers who did not practice agriculture. Six semi-elliptical, C-shaped ridges are nested inside one another, the outermost about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) across. Mound A is about 72 feet (22 m) tall and measures roughly 705 by 655 feet (215 by 200 m). The site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 and is Louisiana's only one.
The site, more than 400 acres (about 160 hectares), has a museum, walking trails and guided tram tours. Allow two to three hours. It lies in rural West Carroll Parish near Epps and Pioneer, away from any large city, so the drive along country roads takes a while.
- Nearest town
- Epps, LA
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 32.6371, -91.4079
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. Hot in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Poverty Point Reservoir State Park CampgroundCampsite12 mi from Poverty Point World Heritage Site
- Motorhome stopoverMotorhome stopover15 mi from Poverty Point World Heritage SiteMotorhomes
All campsites in Louisiana · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Poverty Point World Heritage Site?
Poverty Point World Heritage Site is in Epps, LA, at GPS 32.6371, -91.4079. It is about 37 mi from Vicksburg.
Can you camp near Poverty Point World Heritage Site?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Poverty Point Reservoir State Park Campground, about 12 mi away; within 25 mi there are 2 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Poverty Point World Heritage Site?
Places worth a stop nearby: Vicksburg National Military Park (38 mi), Windsor Ruins (51 mi), Mississippi Petrified Forest (64 mi) and Emerald Mound (70 mi).
When is the best time to visit Poverty Point World Heritage Site?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)