Pipestone National Monument

Pipestone National Monument is a United States national monument in Southern Minnesota.

Native American craftsman carving Pipestone

Understand

Pipestone National Monument was established by an act of Congress on August 25, 1937 for two purposes: to preserve the historically significant site of Native American quarries and to restore quarrying rights to the Native American tribes which had camped, quarried, and traded there for centuries.

Landscape

Pipestone National Monument consists of about 280 acres of tallgrass prairie with trails, quarries, waterfall, and an interpretive center.

The monument sits on a geological feature known locally as Buffalo Ridge, or geologically as the Coteau des Prairies, a plateau approximately 200 miles long by 100 miles wide, elevated 100-200 feet above the surrounding prairie.

Flora and fauna

There are over 400 native plant species growing at the Monument, and includes big bluestem, little bluestem, buffalograss, sideoats gramma, prairie cordgrass, indiangrass and switchgrass. Unfortunately, exotic species such as Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome also are present.

Pipestone's remnant tallgrass prairies host many plants and animals that once flourished throughout the midwest. Over 500 plant species, 28 fish species, 45 macroinvertebrate species, 8 reptiles and amphibians, 25 mammal species, 55 families of insects (over 900 specimens have been collected), and approximately 100 bird species are found at the monument. Two species listed under the Endangered Species Act are found at Pipestone National Monument: the Topeka shiner (fish) and the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (plant).

Many people are surprised to encounter cactus in Minnesota, but the Prickly Pear Cactus is present at Pipestone National Monument, as it is in several other locations in Southwestern Minnesota. Other areas where one might find cactus in Minnesota include Blue Devil Valley State Park and Blue Mounds State Park. The cacti can be difficult to see in the thick grass, although under ideal conditions they have been known to reach up to 36 inches in height.

Climate

With an elevation of 1,600 ft (490 m), the area is high plains. Summer high temperatures average in the 80s (°F) and exceed 100 °F (38 °C) occasionally. Winters are cold and windy with overnight low temperatures typically around 0–10 °F (−18 – −12 °C) in January. Annual precipitation totals are around 20–25 in (510–640 mm), enough to support tall prairie grasses and some trees.

Visitor information

• Park website

Get in

By car

Pipestone National Monument is just north of the town of Pipestone, Minnesota which is in southwestern Minnesota, at the meeting of Minnesota Highways 23 and 30 and US Route 75. It is 23 miles north of Interstate Highway 90.

By plane

Sioux Falls Regional Airport (Joe Foss Field) is about 50 miles southwest, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Flights are offered to Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, Atlanta and Las Vegas.

Fees and permits

In 2018 the park stopped charging entrance fees pending an analysis of "costs associated with collection", and as of 2020 the park remains free to visitors.

See

• Interpretive Center - The monument's Interpretive Center houses displays and artisan demonstrations by Native American craftsmen.
• Town of Pipestone - The town of Pipestone, Minnesota is only about a mile south of the monument. The entire downtown area (on Main Street) of Pipestone is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of the unusual architecture - all the commercial buildings and the courthouse as well are constructed of Sioux Quartzite, an extremely hard, pink-colored mineral quarried locally.

Do

• Hiking - Trails at this national monument are relatively short and very easy. This is sacred Native American site, so be respectful; do not remove or touch prayer ties in trees or along the trail.
• Photography - The monument is a very beautiful and scenic place, with many interesting plants, grasses, and animals to view, in addition to the beautiful Winnewissa Falls of Pipestone Creek.
• Interact - There are Native American artisans in residence, quarrying for pipestone (catlinite) and fashioning it while you watch. These craftsmen are happy to answer questions and discuss their culture while you watch them create pipes, totems, and decorations which you can purchase.

• 1 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 quarries still used by Native Americans today. (updated Jul 2020)

Buy

The gift shop in the visitor center offers many pipestone crafts, made from stone quarried here (but does not sell pipes, or raw, unworked pipestone).

Eat and drink

The visitor center has a vending machine and water bottle filling station. There are many restaurants in the nearby town of Pipestone.

Sleep

There are no places to sleep within the park itself.

Backcountry

The setting of Pipestone National Monument is a largely agricultural landscape. Many large farms and some ranches are to be seen for hundreds of miles around. About 20 miles south on US Highway 75 is Blue Mounds State Park, with several thousand acres of preserved prairie grass and a resident bison herd. About 30 miles to the northeast on Minnesota State Highway 23 is Camden State Park, with facilities for picnics, camping, hiking, and outdoor recreation on the Redwood River.

Stay safe

The biggest safety risks at Pipestone National Monument are probably the short cliff and waterfall over which visitors can hike and climb.