Pipestone National Monument is a National Monument in Minnesota. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Pipestone
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Pipestone. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Pipestone the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 23° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:58 AM | 8:43 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:13 PM | 241° | 9h 16m |
| February | 7:26 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:55 PM | 253° | 10h 30m |
| March | 7:39 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:32 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:43 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:09 PM | 285° | 13h 26m |
| May | 6:00 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:45 PM | 298° | 14h 45m |
| June | 5:43 AM | 6:27 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:11 PM | 305° | 15h 28m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:40 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:07 PM | 302° | 15h 10m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:31 PM | 291° | 14h 02m |
| September | 7:05 AM | 7:43 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:38 PM | 275° | 12h 32m |
| October | 7:40 AM | 8:20 AM | 6:04 PM | 6:43 PM | 259° | 11h 03m |
| November | 7:21 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:17 PM | 5:00 PM | 245° | 9h 39m |
| December | 7:54 AM | 8:41 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:49 PM | 238° | 8h 55m |
Computed for the park's reference point (44.0135, -96.3248); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Pipestone, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:18 AM – 5:58 AM | 0.7 | 14° |
| April | 3:14 AM – 4:54 AM | 1.7 | 16° |
| May | 1:19 AM – 3:49 AM | 2.5 | 17° |
| June | 11:35 PM – 3:15 AM | 3.7 | 17° |
| July | 11:21 PM – 1:51 AM | 2.5 | 17° |
| August | 10:23 PM – 11:53 PM | 1.5 | 16° |
| September | 9:16 PM – 9:46 PM | 0.5 | 13° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Weather varies seasonally from warm and humid in the summer to cold and snowy in the winter. Visitors should be prepared for seasonal weather and for rapidly-changing conditions.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (68%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Plane: Commercial service - located at Sioux Falls, SD -Joe Foss Field airport. 50 miles from Pipestone National Monument. Rental cars are available at the airport. Non-Commercial service - located at Pipestone MN airport. Courtesy car or transit service available to Pipestone National Monument from the airport. Car: Pipestone National Monument is easily accessible from local highways. When you reach the city of Pipestone, road signs will lead you to Pipestone National Monument.
Directions: National Park Service.
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
