Nez Perce National Historic Trail: Through the Big Hole, Horse Prairie and Lemhi Valleys

In August 1877, the tranquility of the Big Hole Valley was shattered by the sound of gunfire as a battle erupted between five bands of Nez Perce Indians and the U.S. military forces along the banks of the Big Hole River. For valley settlers, anxiety turned to fear and concern as nearly 800 Nez Perce men, woman and children gathered their wounded and fled southward towards Skinner Meadows and the country beyond. Today, you can retrace the route used by the Nez Perce and their military pursuers. This brochure describes the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail between Big Hole National Battlefield, Montana and Leadore, Idaho.