Park Hours (Today)
Sunrise to Sunset
Visitor Center at the Big Hole National Battlefield: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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About the Park
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.
What to See & Do
Explore the Walking Trails
Explore the battlefield through 3 different trails: the Nez Perce camp trail (1.6 miles round trip with no elevation gain, the Howitzer capture site (0.8 miles round trip with 320ft elevation gain) and the Siege area trail (1.2 miles round trip with 50ft elevation gain). Allow approximately 2 hours to complete all 3 trails.
Self-Guided Tours
Bear Paw Battlefield at C’áaynim ’Alikinwáaspa
Reverently walk the Bear Paw Battlefield loop trail while listening to the text from the Bear Paw Battlefield Brochure and Trail Guide. For more information about the last battle of the four-month Nez Perce War of 1877, read the frontside of the brochure. For an audio recording of the brochure, please contact Nez Perce National Historic Park.
Visitor Centers
Visitor Center at the Big Hole National Battlefield
The park's visitor center offers museum exhibits, a film, and a book sales area. The award-winning film Weet'uciklitukt: There's No Turning Back, Battle at Big Hole provides an introduction to the Nez Perce Flight of 1877 and the battle that took place at this site. The film is shown throughout the day and is close-captioned. Audio and braille guides are available upon request. Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset daily.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
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.
Park Amenities
Operating Hours
Big Hole National Battlefield
The grounds and trails at Big Hole National Battlefield are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
- MondaySunrise to Sunset
- TuesdaySunrise to Sunset
- WednesdaySunrise to Sunset
- ThursdaySunrise to Sunset
- FridaySunrise to Sunset
- SaturdaySunrise to Sunset
- SundaySunrise to Sunset
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Big Hole National Battlefield Web Camera
Please excuse our mess! We are actively working to replace our webcam so that you can once again admire the scenic beauty of our site. We apologize for the inconvenience. Dominating the background is Battle Mountain. On the slopes of this hill, the Nez Perce kept their horses. On the flat at the base of Battle Mountain is the north fork of the Big Hole River. If you look off to the right, you can see the tipi poles that mark and memorialize the village site that was attacked on the morning of August 9, 1877.
Nez Perce National Historical Park Web Cam - Spalding Site
The park's main visitor center sit's on a hill overlooking the Clearwater River. In the Nez Perce language, this place is called ?iyíwewiy. In English we call it the Spalding site. It was at this location that Henry Spalding set up his mission in the 1830s. Enjoy!
Photos
Blue camas flowers dot a green field with tepee poles in the background.
a cannon overlooks a valley and distant mountains
A large squared-off granite monument standing in a forest clearing
Stone carving of a Nez Perce Warrior's head in full regalia.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
Planning Big Hole National Battlefield
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.