Pipestone National Monument • Minnesota

Pink wall of rock next to path and grass

Purple and yellow wildflowers in a field of tall grass

A couple outside in snowshoes smiling at the camera

A sheet of stone being taken off a thick slab of stone in a quarry pit

A woman standing next to a little girl helping her make a clay pot

A man in a quarry pit swings a hammer as a woman watches

A man watches over a woman as she saws a piece of stone

A waterfall partially surrounded by ice

A man works with tools in a quarry as kids watch

A man in a quarry pit holding a sledge hammer

Sun reflecting off of water through a canopy of trees

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.

The outcroppings along the trail are a surprise to many visitors expecting a flat prairie
J.Borden

The tallgrass prairie is an explosion of color spring through fall
NPS Photo

Snowshoeing is available for free after January 1st
N.Barber

It can take months or even years to reach the pipestone layer in a quarry pit.
J.Borden

Kids have opportunities throughout the summer for hands-on activities
C.McCright

Quarriers must break through over 6 feet of quartzite to reach the pipestone layer
N.Barber

Travis Erickson teaches new carver, Jessica Arkeketa, how to make a pipe
N.Barber

Winnewissa Falls is a favorite spot for visitors all year long
N.Barber

Quarrier and carver Francis Eastman teaches Indigenous youth how to quarry
N.Barber

Quarrier Aaron Prim working his way through 6 feet of quartzite to reach pipestone
N.Barber

The 3/4-mile Circle Trail is open 7 days a week all year for visitors to enjoy
N.Barber

2 men quarrying

Pipestone: An Unbroken Legacy is a 22-minute movie about the cultural significance of the pipestone quarries and the sacred pipe.

A medicine wheel when a piece of stone on one side and a disconnected pipe on the other.

Affiliated Tribal Nations

Learn more about the 23 Tribal Nations that engage in government-to-government consultation with the Monument.

Man outdoors speaking in front of woman and 2 children

Demonstrations, exhibits, special events, programs, self-guided tours, Jr. Ranger programs, and more

A man in a quarry with a sledgehammer

Quarrying Pipestone

How to get a permit and the process behind quarrying pipestone

Last updated: September 3, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

36 Reservation Ave
Pipestone, MN 56164

Phone:

507 825-5464 x214

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