​​The 1,170-mile-long Nez Perce National Historic Trail traces the route of the non-treaty Nez Perce as they fled the U.S. Army. The conflicts began in Wallowa County, Oregon, and came to a head near White Bird, Idaho, resulting in deaths of white settlers, soldiers, and Nez Perce men, women, and children. Subsequently, 750-800 Nez Perce with ~2,000 horses and 200 dogs fled the U.S. Army during a tragic 4-month saga across three states, ending just 40 miles from the Canadian border, where Chief Joseph famously said, ‘From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever’.

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The Trail was designated as a National Historic Trail in 1986, administered by the U.S. Forest Service. We will commemorate its 40th anniversary in 2026, In 2027, we will commemorate the Sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of the Nez Perce War of 1877.

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The Trust for the Nez Perce Trail, as nonprofit stewardship partner to the US Forest Service, helps augment resources for Trail conservation, interpretive enhancements, public education about the Nez Perce War and support for rural tourism related to the Trail.