Nez Perce National Historical Park

Things To Do Near Nez Perce National Historical Park

If you are starting your visit to Nez Perce from the east, stop and explore Bear Paw, where the first battle of the Nez Perce Flight of 1877 took place. You will also go through Canyon Creek, which is where Nez Perce soldiers kept American troops pinned down long enough for many of their people to escape, and Camas Meadow before you reach the sites closer to Lapwai. To learn more about the significance of these sites, you can take the auto audio tour of the areas. There are many short hiking trails available. Stop and explore the exhibits at the visitor centers in Spalding, Idaho, Wisdom, Montana, and Chinook, Montana. Each site regularly shows films about the events that happened at their particular location. 

Hiking Trails

• The Old Townsite Trail 

  Start The Old Townsite Trail at the bridge crossing the Clearwater River. See the Agent’s House, where one of two supervisors of the Nez Perce settlement lived. Watch for signs left when this area served as a trading post for the Nez Perce people and early homesteaders settled. You can find home foundations, an old root cellar, and other artifacts. This trail loops around through the valley with great opportunities to see wildlife. 

  Location

  Nez Perce National Monument, Spalding, Idaho 83540 

  Length

  1 mile 

  Intensity

  Easy

• Heart of the Monster Trail 

  As you hike on the Heart of the Monster Trail, you can see where early Nez Perce people crossed the Clearwater River. Listen to the audio trail guide to hear about a Nez Perce man named Coyote who had a vision that he rose out of the earth at this point and defeated a powerful army. 

  Location

  Milepost 68.5 Highway 12, Kamiah, Idaho 83536 

  Length

  0.5 miles 

  Intensity

  Easy

• Buffalo Eddy Trail 

  If you're interested in petroglyphs and pictographs left by the Nez Perce people, explore the Buffalo Eddy Trail. Interpretative kiosks along the short trail help you understand more about how the Nez Perce lived. This short hike offers excellent views of the Snake River. 

  Location

  Buffalo Eddy, Snake River Road, Asotin, Washington 99402 

  Length

  1 mile 

  Intensity

  Easy

Sightseeing

• Canoe Camp 

  See the spot where the Lewis and Clark expedition worked with Nez Perce people to carve wooden canoes to continue their exploration. This 4.1-acre site has several interpretative kiosks showcasing more about the time Merriweather Lewis and William Clark spent at this location along the Clearwater River. 

  Location

  14224 US 12, Orofino, Idaho 83554

• Bear Paw Battlefield 

  Take a guided tour with a park ranger at Bear Paw Battlefield. This first battle in the Flight of 1877 occurred at this location. The main action at this battlefield occurred between September 30 and October 5, 1877. The battle lasted five days and resulted in 106 people surrendering to the U.S. government and 20 escaping to Canada. 

  Location

  US Highway 240 South, Chinook, Montana 59523

• Big Hole National Battlefield 

  Join a park ranger for a weekend guided hike of the Big Hole National Battlefield and learn more about how the Nez Perce warriors held the U.S. soldiers at bay until their women and children could escape. Then, sit on the deck with its commanding view of the battlefield and listen to park rangers describe the events at this location. You can often hear special speakers at this spot during the summer. 

  Location

  16425 Montana-43, Wisdom, Montana 59761

Museums

• Nez Perce Museum 

  Stop at the Nez Perce Museum to learn more about the Nez Perce culture. They have many different displays, including historical photos, to help you see and understand the lifestyle of the Native Americans and early homesteaders. Special events often occur at this location. 

  Location

  306 3rd Street, Lewiston, Idaho 83501 

• Spalding Visitors Center and Museum 

  View woven bags of hemp and cornhusk, baskets, beaded buckskin clothing, and painted parfleches at the Spalding Visitors Center and Museum. More than 150,000 are in their permanent collection. Different groups, including the Spanish missions and the Indian Agency, controlled this area throughout history. 

  Location

  39063 U.S. 95, Lapwai, Idaho 83540

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

• Moccasin Flats Trading Post 

  Find traditional and ceremonial Native American clothing, including moccasins, at Moccasin Flats Trading Post. Area residents make most of the pieces. You can also find supplies to make beadwork projects. 

  Location

  302 South Main Street, Lapwai, Idaho 83540 

• Snake River Arms 

  Select from a wide assortment of revolvers, pistols, and shotguns at Snake River Arms. They also carry many accessories and targets. This store also carries a variety of gunsmithing tools. 

  Location

  105 Ash Avenue, Lapwai, Idaho 83540 

• Drovers Run at Jacques Spur 

  You will love the rustic setting of Dovers Run at Jacques Spur. They serve outstanding chicken and fish sandwiches along with great burgers. Leave room for their wide assortment of house-made cheesecakes. 

  Location

  49038 US 95, Culdesac, Idaho 83524 

• El Sombrero 

  Deciding between the enchiladas, tacos, and other Mexican entrees at El Sombrero can be challenging, so consider one of their platters. They have a full bar, and you can get delicious margaritas. The different daily specials served with beans and rice are also fantastic. 

  Location

  405 Thain Rd, Lewiston, Idaho 83501 

How To Get To Nez Perce National Historical Park

A great approach to seeing all that the Nez Perce National Monument has to offer at its 38 diverse sites is to follow the Nez Perce Auto Tour. This tour starts in Joseph, Oregon. If you are in Portland or another location to the west of Joseph, get on Interstate 84 East. Take exit 261, and turn right onto Oregon 82 East. This road makes some twists and turns, but keep following it until you reach Joseph and the Nez Perce Auto Tour starting point. Start at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, a great place to learn more information about the different sites. Then, follow the brown-and-white signs to explore the sites spread across Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon. 

Address

Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, 402 North Main Street, Joseph, Oregon 97846

Fee: Entry fee $0

The Nez Prez National Monument is divided into 38 various sites related to the tribe. A great way to explore these sites is by driving along the Nez Perce Auto Tour. This tour is divided into eight different segments and runs for over 1,000 miles. To see it all, you will want to bring your RV so that you can easily move between one site and the next as many are in highly remote locations.