Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

All clear. The managing agency, the National Weather Service and wildfire reporting show no current alerts.

Overview

On August 9, 1877, gunshots shattered a chilly dawn on a sleeping camp of nımí·pu· (Nez Perce). By the time the smoke cleared on August 10, almost 90 nımí·pu· were dead, along with 31 soldiers and volunteers. Big Hole National Battlefield was created to honor all who were there.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Cultural Demonstrations
  • Fishing
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Skiing
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Snowshoeing
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Big Hole National Battlefield: The grounds and trails at Big Hole National Battlefield are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Getting there

Big Hole National Battlefield is located on Highway 43 ten miles west of the town of Wisdom in southwestern Montana. Bear Paw Battlefield is located on Route 240 sixteen miles south of the town of Chinook in north-central Montana.

Visitor centers

Weather

This region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. By definition, Wisdom is considered a subalpine climate.

Phone: 406-689-3155

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Blue camas flowers dot a green field with tepee poles in the background.
Camas Blooms Near the Nez Perce Camp at the Big Hole · NPS Photo
a cannon overlooks a valley and distant mountains
Mountain Howitzer at the Big Hole Battlefield · NPS Photo
A large squared-off granite monument standing in a forest clearing
Monument to the US Soldiers and Volunteers at the Big Hole Battlefield · NPS Photo
Stone carving of a Nez Perce Warrior's head in full regalia.
Chief Joseph Memorial at the Big Hole Battlefield · NPS Photo
Three large stone monuments and four interpretive signs overlook a series of low hills.
Bear Paw Battlefield · NPS Photo

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