Experience the Nez Perce Trail

In 1887, the flight of the Nez Perce took place in response to U.S. Generals Howard, Sturgis and Miles trying to take away their homelands. With a strong retort, Chief Joseph, Chief Looking Glass, Chief White Bird, Chief Ollokot and Chief Lean Elk departed with their people, leading nearly 750 Nez Perce men, women and children on a journey of 1,170 miles through valleys, over mountains and across rivers as they made their way north to the Canadian border. 

This route – known today as the Nez Perce National Historic Trail – was used only once in its entirety from start to finish, which was in 1877 when the Nez Perce fled from the U.S. army. However, the  trails and roads that make up the route were used for generations before and after the event.

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Today, the Nez Perce National Historic Trail is 1,170 miles long, starting at Wallowa Lake, Oregon, and crosses through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, passing through stunning landscapes and important historical sites. Travelers can visit the trail itself, retracing the steps and the poignant story of the Nez Perce Tribe. ​​