Pipestone National Monument

For centuries, Native peoples have quarried the soft red catlinite at Pipestone to carve sacred ceremonial pipes, and the quarries remain active and sacred to 23 affiliated tribal nations today. The Upper Midwest Indian Cultural Center in the visitor center hosts pipemakers demonstrating their craft in summer.

Watch pipes being carved and walk the Circle Trail past the quarries, quartzite cliffs, and Winnewissa Falls. For a challenge, take the full Circle Trail slowly and spend unhurried time with the cultural center's carvers and exhibits.