Plan Your Visit

Starting Your Visit to Big Hole National Battlefield

Begin your visit to Big Hole National Battlefield at the visitor center, which offers an excellent introduction to the site. Here, you can watch a film, explore the museum exhibits, and browse the bookstore for resources that provide an overview of the significant events that occurred on the battlefield in August 1877. During the summer months, daily ranger-guided activities are available to enhance your visit.

Big Hole National Battlefield is part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park, which encompasses 38 sites across four states—Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. These sites weave together the many stories that define the Nez Perce history. Join us in commemorating the legacy of a culture that has profoundly impacted the history of the American West and continues to contribute to the rich fabric of 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: November 14, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 237
Wisdom, MT 59761

Phone:

406 689-3155

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