📷 NPS staff, Public domainPipestone National Monument
Pipestone, MN
Native American quarries where the red pipestone for ceremonial pipes is still dug by hand, set in a patch of tallgrass prairie. A short loop trail passes the quarries and Winnewissa Falls; the visitor center explains the tradition.
Pipestone National Monument was established on August 25, 1937, and today covers about 300 acres (120 ha). It contains the quarries where red pipestone (catlinite) is extracted, a stone that many Indigenous peoples hold sacred. Only members of federally recognized tribes have the right to quarry, and the stone must be extracted with hand tools only. Large parts of the area are restored tallgrass prairie, maintained through controlled burns.
A loop trail of about 0.75 mile (1.2 km) passes the quarries, red quartzite cliffs, and a waterfall, Winnewissa Falls. At the visitor center, home to the Upper Midwest Indian Cultural Center, you can learn more about nature and culture; in summer there are pipemaking demonstrations. One to two hours are enough for the trail and exhibits. The monument makes a quiet stop if you are traveling routes through Minnesota or South Dakota.
- Nearest town
- Pipestone, MN
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 44.0140, -96.3240
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 May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Split Rock Creek State Park CampgroundCampsite8 mi from Pipestone National Monument · 34 pitchesElectricityShowersWaste disposal
- Flandreau Municipal Park CampgroundCampsite12 mi from Pipestone National MonumentElectricityDrinking waterShowers
- Rock River City ParkCampsite13 mi from Pipestone National Monument · 16 pitchesElectricityDrinking waterShowers
- Twin Lakes Park CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Pipestone National MonumentElectricity
- Blue Mound State Park Group CampCampsite22 mi from Pipestone National Monument · 14 pitchesDrinking waterToilets
- Colman CampgroundsCampsite24 mi from Pipestone National Monument · 27 pitchesElectricityDrinking waterShowers
All campsites in Minnesota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Pipestone National Monument?
Pipestone National Monument is in Pipestone, MN, at GPS 44.0140, -96.3240. It is about 38 mi from Sioux Falls.
Can you camp near Pipestone National Monument?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Proposed Campground Expansion, about 8 mi away; within 25 mi there are 16 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Pipestone National Monument?
Places worth a stop nearby: Falls Park (37 mi), Lake Okoboji (74 mi), Corn Palace (87 mi) and Grotto of the Redemption (119 mi).
When is the best time to visit Pipestone National Monument?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)