2017 1st Day Hike

Date: December 23, 2016
Contact: Cody Goraczkowski, 507-825-5464 Ext. 214

Pipestone National Monument News Release

For Immediate Release: 12/23/2016
Contact: Cody Goraczkowski         Phone: [phone] Ext. 214       Email: e-mail us

First Day Hike at Pipestone National Monument on Jan. 1

Start the year off with a healthy and educational walk in the outdoors. On Jan. 1, park staff from both Pipestone National Monument and Blue Mounds State Park will guide visitors around the historic Circle Trail, Winnewissa Falls, quartzite cliffs, and the pipestone quarries near the town of Pipestone.
 
For countless generations, American Indians have quarried the red pipestone found at this site. These grounds are sacred to many people because the pipestone quarried here is carved into pipes used for prayer. The traditions of quarrying and pipemaking continue at the site.
 
To participate in the First Day Hike, meet at the parking lot in front of the Pipestone National Monument visitor center at 10 a.m. on Jan. 1. No reservations are required. Wear shoes and clothing appropriate for walking on a winter morning. Be prepared for slippery and uneven walking conditions. Bring drinking water. The hike will last approximately one hour. Bathrooms are available in the visitor center. There is no fee to participate. For more information on Pipestone National Monument, visit www.nps.gov/pipe/index.htm. 
 
First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to get people outdoors, with 100’s of  hikes scheduled this year in all 50 states. First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year outdoors by taking a healthy hike at a state park or National Park site. For more information on First Day Hikes, visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/firstdayhike.html.
 
To learn more about visiting the Pipestone National Monument, visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/pipe or to visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PipestoneNPS/ . Contact the Park Ranger at 507-825-5464 ext. 214 or email at e-mail us
 

www.nps.gov
 

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for the 410 parks in the National Park System and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.