Pipestone National Monument
Guide

The pipestone might only be quarried by Native Americans, but visitors to the resort can still watch the process of quarrying. Visitors can learn more about quarrying and can quarry themselves only if they have the necessary permits.

The Native Americans also explain the significance of quarrying to their culture, the history of the Pipestone National Monument and how it became a national treasure following its handover to the government.

Interested visitors can learn the process of crafting pipestone and catlinite into different objects like the Native Americans used to do. This activity is carried out by American Indian craft workers.

These craft workers make souvenirs and small gifts from the pipestone and sell to visitors to the site. Demonstrations are only available during in-season months.

Pipestone National Monument offers visitors the chance to view the unique plant and animal life that have formed the region's ecosystem pre-dating its recognition as a National Monument. By virtue of the monument's protected status, it has some of the last remaining native tallgrass prairie habitat left in southwest Minnesota. The trail brings you across the prairie fields, with 35 species of freshwater plants and over 100 wildflower and grass species growing here.

The region also has a diverse animal population, with over 25 mammal species, 100 bird species, and nearly 30 fish species. Several squirrel and rabbit species can be spotted in the open fields while hiking as well as other small rodents like raccoons and minks. Swallows, blue herons, eagles, woodpeckers, and wild turkeys are just a few of the 100 plus types of birds that nest around the monument.

Tourists who are leaving the Visitor Center can take the 3/4 mile Circle Trail that begins and ends at the visitor center that takes you through various points of interest at the monument. Experience the Pipestone quarries, native tallgrass prairies, and Winnewissa Falls. Several benches are available along the trail and it is wheelchair accessible as well.

Pipestone National Monument Trail is also close by. A 1.1-mile hiking trail, it features a scenic waterfall, some wildlife viewing opportunities, and is suitable for people of all ages. The trail is primarily used for hiking and birding although bikers also make use of it. The trail is pet-friendly and maps to all trails in the region can be found at the Visitor Center.

Kids at Pipestone National Monument have the opportunity to become junior rangers by enrolling in the Pipestone Junior Ranger Program. The program is usually reserved for children between ages 8 and 12, although adults are welcome to join in the fun too.

The activity involves carrying out a series of tasks contained in the junior ranger handbook aimed at teaching young kids the importance of preserving National Parks and Monuments as well as wildlife and plants.

The Visitor Center offers a whole host of indoor activities to visitors and is the best place to pass the time when it's too hot or cold to explore the outdoors. "Pipestone: An Unbroken Legacy", an interpretative documentary on the history of the region, is displayed at the museum throughout the offseason. There is a small museum containing weapons and artifacts from the war also located in the building.

Park Rangers at the Visitor Center also give detailed explanations of events from the movie and the significance of some of the artifacts displayed in the museum. Park brochures and trail maps can also be purchased here and the building also acts as a launch point for the Circle Trail.