Visit Tolo Lake

Tolo Lake is the largest natural water body on the Camas Prairie, and a traditional gathering area for many bands of the nimíipuu (Nez Perce). It has a rich and varied history that includes providing habitat for mammoth's thousands of years ago to playing a role in the Nez Perce Flight of 1877 to providing fishing, bird watching, and other popular recreation activities today.

This page provides the information you need to plan your visit.

 

These are two of the informational panels that you will find at Tolo Lake.

NPS Photo

Getting to Tolo Lake

Tolo Lake is located on Tolo Lake Road 6 miles west of Grangeville, Idaho.

Location:

• Latitude/Longitude:
  45°55'3.27"N 116°14'18.39"W

Driving to Tolo Lake

• From the Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center in Lapwai, Idaho turn left onto U.S. Highway 95 South for 54 miles and then turn right onto Lake Road. Continue on Lake Road for 2.1 miles where you will cross John's Creek. The road changes to John's Creek Road at this point. Continue on John's Creek Road for 1 miles and turn left onto the Tolo Lake access road.
• From I-95 turn west onto Tolo Lake Road 1.6 miles south of Grangeville, Idaho. Stay on Tolo Lake Road for 4.2 miles. The pullout at the lake will be on your left.

Things to Do at Tolo Lake

Explore the Site

Tolo Lake is an affiliated site of the Nez Perce National Historical Park that is owned and managed by the Idaho State Fish and Game (IDF&G). There are informational panels, a vault toilet, picnic tables, fire pits, a dock, and a boat ramp. It is a popular birding and fishing spot, supporting a warm water fishery.

Nearby Amenities

• Tolo Lake is located approximately 57 miles southeast of the Nez Perce National Historical Park's visitor center where further information is available.
• An exhibit about the Tolo Lake mammoths that includes a replica mammoth skeleton can be seen in a pavilion at Eimer's Park near the Grangeville Chamber of Commerce in Grangeville, ID.
• The Idaho Department of Commerce has a trip planning website that will help you locate hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, and other amenities near Tolo Lake.

Respecting Sacred Ground

This 36 acre lake is an important cultural site for the nimíipuu (Nez Perce) and also a popular recreation area for anglers and birders. Please help us protect and respect Tolo Lake.

• Anglers must posses a valid Idaho State fishing license and must comply with Idaho State fishing regulations.
• Avoid collecting, injuring, or destroying paleontological and archeological artificats, including mammoth fossils. They are protected by state and federal law and violaters are subject to arrest and prosecution.
• Avoid harassing or disturbing wildlife. If a bird or animal changes its behavior due to your presence, you have disturbed it.
• Report any damage or suspected violation to the Idaho Department of Fish & Game at [phone].

Nez Perce Trail Auto Tour

The staff at the Nez Perce National Historic Trail have developed auto tours with travel instructions for retracing the 1877 route of the Nez Perce along with maps, graphics, and details about the confilct at sites you can see along the way. Download Auto Tour 1 for more details about the what occured at Tolo Lake and other early events in the Nez Perce Flight of 1877, or email us to receive a free printed copy.