Plan Your Visit

A visit to Big Hole is best begun at the visitor center. A film, museum, and book store provide an overview of the events that took place on the battlefield in August of 1877. During the summer months, ranger-guided activities take place daily.

Big Hole National Battlefield is part of Nez Perce National Historical Park that has thirty-eight sites spread over four states (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) that touch on many of the threads that make up the Nez Perce story. Join us in commemorating the history of a culture that has left a distinctive mark on the history of the west and continue to make contributions to the tapestry that is the American experience.

 
Male park ranger and four visitors on a forested trail.
Ranger Programs

Attend a guided tour of the battlefield, a ranger talk at the visitor center, or a special cultural demonstrator's program.

A women cross country skiing on a trail.
Big Hole National Battlefield Trails

Experience the sacred nature of this battleground year-round by hiking or snow-shoeing one of our three trails.

Appaloosa horse in traditional Nez Perce ceremonial garb.
Big Hole Commemoration is August 5, 2023

Each year the Nez Perce host a commemoration to remember those who lost their lives at Big Hole and pay tribute to those who survived.

students in a tepee practice a skill with a cultural demonstrator during Coyote Camp
Education Programs for School Groups

Schedule a ranger program for your students! Reservations are now being accepted for Big Hole's premier education program, Coyote Camp.

Blue camas bloom in the foreground and the tipi frames from the Nez Perce encampment
Directions to Big Hole

Directions to the Big Hole National Battlefield.

A mountain howitzer cannon sits on a snowy hillside overlooking a wintry valley.
Big Hole Operating Hours and Seasons

Big Hole & Bear Paw battlefields are open year-round. Visitor center hours, and seasonal & temporary closures are listed at this link.

close up photo of a purple flower with an artistically blurred out background.
Big Hole Fees, Permits, and Reservations

Learn about fees, permits, and reservations required for recreating, filming, researching, or doing business at the battlefields.

Photo of regulations signage at a trailhead that reads no hunting, no camping, no collecting.
Rules and Regulations

What should I do with artifacts I find? Are drones allowed? Where can I take my gun? Know before you go!

Tipi poles site in a field of purple blooming flowers with snow capped mountains in the distance.
Places to Go

Explore the array of sites that make up the Nez Perce National Historical Park.

Last updated: June 29, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 237
Wisdom, MT 59761

Phone:

406 689-3155

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