Agnostik
National Monument · MN

Pipestone National Monument

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.

nps.gov ↗

Photos

Pink wall of rock next to path and grass
The outcroppings along the trail are a surprise to many visitors expecting a flat prairie
Purple and yellow wildflowers in a field of tall grass
The tallgrass prairie is an explosion of color spring through fall
A couple outside in snowshoes smiling at the camera
Snowshoeing is available for free after January 1st
A sheet of stone being taken off a thick slab of stone in a quarry pit
It can take months or even years to reach the pipestone layer in a quarry pit.
A woman standing next to a little girl helping her make a clay pot
Kids have opportunities throughout the summer for hands-on activities
A man in a quarry pit swings a hammer as a woman watches
Quarriers must break through over 6 feet of quartzite to reach the pipestone layer
A man watches over a woman as she saws a piece of stone
Travis Erickson teaches new carver, Jessica Arkeketa, how to make a pipe
A waterfall partially surrounded by ice
Winnewissa Falls is a favorite spot for visitors all year long
A man works with tools in a quarry as kids watch
Quarrier and carver Francis Eastman teaches Indigenous youth how to quarry
A man in a quarry pit holding a sledge hammer
Quarrier Aaron Prim working his way through 6 feet of quartzite to reach pipestone
Sun reflecting off of water through a canopy of trees
The 3/4-mile Circle Trail is open 7 days a week all year for visitors to enjoy

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Craft Demonstrations
  • Cultural Demonstrations
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Snowshoeing
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs