Pipestone National Monument

National Park Service, Minnesota.

For over 3,000 years, Indigenous people have quarried the red stone at this site to make pipes used in prayer and ceremony - a tradition that continues to this day and makes this site sacred to many people.

Nearby Activities

  • Historic & Cultural Site
  • Picnicking
  • Wildlife Viewing

Directions

Plane: Commercial service - located at Sioux Falls, SD -Joe Foss Field airport. 50 miles from Pipestone National Monument. Rental cars are available at the airport. Non-Commercial service - located at Pipestone MN airport. Courtesy car or transit service available to Pipestone National Monument from the airport. Car: Pipestone National Monument is easily accessible from local highways. When you reach the city of Pipestone, road signs will lead you to Pipestone National Monument.

Additional Information

  • Pipestone National Monument Official Website
  • Pipestone National Monument Map

Photo Gallery

  • Sunrise over Pipestone CreekThe 3/4-mile Circle Trail is open 7 days a week all year for visitors to enjoy
  • Aaron Prim Breaking Through QuartziteQuarrier Aaron Prim working his way through 6 feet of quartzite to reach pipestone
  • Tallgrass PrairieThe tallgrass prairie is an explosion of color spring through fall
  • Snowshoeing the Circle TrailSnowshoeing is available for free after January 1st
  • Teaching the Next GenerationQuarrier and carver Francis Eastman teaches Indigenous youth how to quarry
  • Winnewissa Falls in WinterWinnewissa Falls is a favorite spot for visitors all year long
  • Sioux Quartzite CliffsThe outcroppings along the trail are a surprise to many visitors expecting a flat prairie
  • Breaking ThroughQuarriers must break through over 6 feet of quartzite to reach the pipestone layer
  • Learning to Carve PipestoneTravis Erickson teaches new carver, Jessica Arkeketa, how to make a pipe
  • Jr. Ranger Camp ProgramsKids have opportunities throughout the summer for hands-on activities
  • Pulling PipestoneIt can take months or even years to reach the pipestone layer in a quarry pit.
  • Interp_CircleTrail-LakeHiawatha_8-2009Lake Hiawatha, one of many scenic sites visitors can see from the Monument Circle Trail.
  • Interp_CircleTrail-PrairieFlowersGrass_7-2009View of Prairie Grasses and summer wildflowers, one of many scenic sites visitors can see from the Monument Circle Trail.
  • Interp_CircleTrail-WinnewissaFalls_3-2008Winnewissa Falls, one of many scenic sites visitors can see from the Monument Circle Trail.
  • Interp_Monument_VisitorCenter2_9-2012Front entrance of the visitor center as seen from the parking lot.
  • Interp_NicolletMarker_2009Nicollet Marker, one of many historic sites visitors can see from the Monument Circle Trail
  • Interp_CircleTrail-ExhibitQuarry_08-2012Monument's Exhibit Quarry, one of many scenic sites visitors can see from the Monument Circle Trail.

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