Photo Courtesy of Mark Thode
Connect with tradition at Pipestone National Monument and experience the tranquility of the quarries held sacred by Native Americans for thousands of years. Watch local artisans keep alive the art of hand-carving pipestone. Walk the scenic paved Circle Trail along the tallgrass prairie and pink Sioux Quartzite ridgeline. Stand at the 1838 Nicollet Expedition marker where Joseph Nicollet and John C. Fremont camped while mapping the triangle of land between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Behold the natural rugged beauty of Winnewissa Falls, Old Stone Face (Leaping Rock), and the Oracle. For those traveling with children or pets, they can each earn their own Junior Ranger Badge or B.A.R.K. Ranger Dog Tag.
After exploring Pipestone National Monument, discover so much more in Pipestone! Stroll our charming downtown with a self-guided tour book available for free from the Pipestone County Museum or the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce. Tour the County Museum’s “Building Boom!” exhibit on the Sioux Quartzite Industry. View date stones and photos of Pipestone quartzite buildings past and present while learning about the various Pipestone quarries and businesses that operated them.
Photo Courtesy of Erica Volkir
Pipestone is home to a vibrant arts scene at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. From regional community theater productions by The Calumet Players, to choral concerts by Al Opland Singers, to nationally known professional touring acts of the Presenters Series, we have it all! Plus, tickets are wallet-friendly and there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Finally, no trip is complete without some local shopping and dining! Shop our charming boutiques, antique stores, and gift shops with friendly service, great deals, and unique finds. Reward the foodie in you and refuel for more adventures with the cheesiest pizzas, authentic Mexican dishes, mouthwatering pork medallions and steaks, and classic diner favorites at a variety of family-run local restaurants.
Photo Courtesy of Julie Carrow
For outdoor lovers, Pipestone is a perfect hub, with not only a National Park Site but four State Parks within 33 miles. A 10-minute drive south on MN 23 is one of Minnesota’s quietest State Parks, Split Rock Creek State Park. Home to the state’s largest single-span stone arch bridge and a Sioux Quartzite Dam, the easy 2.5-mile walking trail will take you over the dam to a great spot to photograph the still-operational bridge. Built in 1938, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed local stoneworkers to create the dam and one of the few lakes in the far southwest corner of the state. Being a little off the grid, Split Rock Lake is a terrific spot to kayak or canoe without competing with boatcraft.
Continuing down Split Rock Creek across the state border brings you to one of South Dakota’s most unique and popular State Parks: Palisades State Park. Fifty-foot spires of Sioux Quartzite provide scenic overlooks of the creek and are easily accessible by short trails. Also within 25 miles of Pipestone is one of Minnesota’s most unique State Parks, Blue Mounds State Park. Bison graze this prairie park year-round, and a 100-foot Sioux Quartzite cliff is less than a mile’s walk from the Eagle Rock Vista parking lot. Northeast of Pipestone on MN 23 is a fourth State Park, Camden State Park. A wooded oasis on the prairies of southwest Minnesota, the Dakota Valley Trail is a rewarding hike offering a terrific lookout over the Redwood River valley.
