A Day In The Park: Big Hole National Battlefield

Many units of the National Park System protect, preserve, and commemorate the people and cultures of significant historical events. Many units are also parts of other units. For example, Big Hole National Battlefield in Montana is not only a park unit all unto itself, but is also part of the larger Nez Perce National Historical Park, consisting of 38 locations in five states. In addition, this national battlefield lies along the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, the route taken by the nımí·pu· (Nez Perce) as they fled from the U.S. military toward Canada.

But let’s return to the battlefield, located off MT Highway 43,10 miles (16 kilometers) west of the town of Wisdom in southwestern Montana and 81 miles southwest of the city of Butte, Montana. Stand there today, looking out toward the forested hills and grass valley through which meander Ruby Creek and the North Fork of the Bighole River, and you will hear nothing but the wind flowing over this now-peaceful landscape.

On an early August day in 1877, however, surrounded by smoke and fire, a battle ensued when U.S. soldiers attacked a sleeping nımí·pu· (Nez Perce) encampment. The sounds of chaos erupted: screams, shouts, gunshot, and battle cries, as the nımí·pu· fought to protect themselves from the surprise encounter. This peaceful patch of land next to a ribbon of clear water turned into a bloody battlefield littered with the bodies of 60 to 90 nımí·pu· men, women, and children, and 31 military and civilian volunteers (some of whom the nımí·pu· recognized and thought of as friends), in addition to 38 wounded military and civilians.

There’s a little bit of hiking available here – enough to stretch your legs after spending time in your vehicle. The three very short trails lead to overlooks of historic sites and significance within the battlefield. You can walk the trails in the summer or snowshoe/cross-country ski the trails during the winter.

Travel to this park during the summer and you might be offered the chance to join a ranger-led program for in-depth history of the battlefield, or attend the park’s Summer Speaker Series where you’ll be afforded the opportunity to listen to Nez Perce tribal members share their knowledge, traditions, and connections to this landscape.

Big Hole National Battlefield is not a park for waterskiing, paddling, fishing, or climbing. This is a park unit for history buffs and those seeking to understand and remember the events occurring almost 150 years ago. It’s a park important for several reasons:

• It commemorates the largest battle between the nımí·pu· and U.S. government forces during the five-month-long Nez Perce War during which the nımí·pu· attempted to escape to Canada.
• This site preserves not only the landscape but also the artifacts within the landscape left there during that battle.
• This landscape is a sacred burial ground for the nımí·pu· people.
• The battlefield honors everyone who lost their lives there: nımí·pu·, U.S. soldiers, volunteers.

Come to this park in August and, depending upon the day, you might have the opportunity to join the Nez Perce people gather at Big Hole to commemorate the battle and remember and honor those who lost their lives here during the August 1877 battle, as well as pay tribute to those who survived. Everyone is invited to attend and there is no admission fee.

Big Hole National Battlefield is a destination at which to stop while heading to your larger national park destination, such as Glacier or Yellowstone. This park is also a stop along the Nez Perce National Historic Trail and a part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park, so you could include this unit as part of a multi-day, more immersive look into the nımí·pu· culture and history.

Traveler’s Choice For: History, Native American culture