About Pipestone
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.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Midwest
- State
- Minnesota
- Designation
- National Monument
- Entrance fee
- None listed
- Trail data for this park is still being added.
- Places for this park are still being added.
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Pipestone.
Entrance fees
The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.
Hours
Park Grounds
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
The grounds are open 24 hours a day year-round so that visitors may walk the 3/4-mile Circle Trail at any time.
Weather and when to go
Weather varies seasonally from warm and humid in the summer to cold and snowy in the winter. Visitors should be prepared for seasonal weather and for rapidly-changing conditions.
Getting there
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.
Contact the park
- Address
- 36 Reservation Ave, Pipestone, MN 56164
- Phone
- (507) 825-5464
- Official site
- nps.gov/pipe
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Pipestone
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Things to do in Pipestone
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Hike the Circle Trail
The Circle Trail is a 3/4-mile long paved path. It cuts through a Tallgrass Prairie, along a creek with the endangered Topeka Shiner, in front of a waterfall, and past ancient qua…
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Exhibits & Film
Exhibits and a 22-minute film provide visitors with an understanding of the cultural and spiritual significance of the site.
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Picnic at the Three Maidens
The Monument has complimentary picnic tables and restrooms near the Three Maidens. The sheltered picnic area and lodge are owned by the city of Pipestone (contact information is p…
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Indoor Interpretive Experiences
A wide range of indoor interpretive opportunities and hands-on activities are available from spring through fall.
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Cultural Demonstrations
From April through October, visitors can learn from cultural demonstrators.
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Outdoor Programs
Visitors are offered a chance to hear stories about Pipestone's history, learn more about its cultural and natural resources, attend night sky viewings, engage in interactive arch…
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Winter Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing around the Circle Trail is available after January 1st as long as the conditions allow for it.
What to pack for Pipestone
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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