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.
Photo: NPS Photo
Big Hole National Battlefield
On August 9, 1877, gunshots shattered a chilly dawn on a sleeping camp of nımí·pu· (Nez Perce).
- LocationWisdom, MT
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursDaily, Sunrise to Sunset
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Weather now61°F Overcast
- Alerts No active alerts
Overview
Topics
- Battlefields
- Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite
- Indian and Frontier Wars
- Indigenous and Native Warrior
- Infantry and Militia
- Massacres
- Military
- Monuments and Memorials
7 more topics
- Native American Heritage
- Tragic Events
- Trails
- Tribal Conflicts
- US Army
- Wars and Conflicts
- Westward Expansion
Things to Do
1 experience from the National Park Service, plus every activity offered in the park. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
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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)…
Learn more about Explore the Walking Trails on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
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Activities in the park
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Facilities & Services
Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Other Visitor Services
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Visitor Center at Big Hole National Battlefield
Facility
The park's visitor center offers museum exhibits, a film, and a book sales area. The 26-minute film Weet'uciklitukt: There's No Turning Back, Battle at Big Hole provides…
16425 Highway 43 West, Wisdom, MT (406) 689-3155 Directions
Details
The park's visitor center offers museum exhibits, a film, and a book sales area. The 26-minute 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 captioned in English. Film captions are available in German or Spanish by request. Audio and braille guides are available upon request. Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset daily.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Daily, Sunrise to Sunset · Big Hole National Battlefield
Hours details
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Big Hole National BattlefieldDaily, Sunrise to Sunset
The grounds and trails at Big Hole National Battlefield are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Monday Sunrise to Sunset Tuesday Sunrise to Sunset Wednesday Sunrise to Sunset Thursday Sunrise to Sunset Friday Sunrise to Sunset Saturday Sunrise to Sunset Sunday Sunrise to Sunset
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Address
16425 Highway 43 WestWisdom, MT 59761
Contact the park
Weather & conditions
61°F
Overcast · feels like 55°
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Today
68° 40°
Sunny6% rain -
Tomorrow
66° 38°
Sunny5% rain
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Sunday
73° 39°
Sunny1% rain
Updated 4 hr ago
What to expect by season
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.
Photos
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Nez Perce warriors captured and dismantled the Mountain Howitzer cannon before the US army could use it effectively at the Battle of the Big Hole. — NPS Photo -
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Getting There
Wisdom, MT 59761
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.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 237, Wisdom, MT 59761
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