Nez Perce National Historical Park

Colorful painted tipi on green lawn
Every morning in the summer Rangers put a tipi on the front lawn of the visitor center. Visitors are always welcome to help.
Petroglyph carvings on the bank of the Snake River.
Buffalo Eddy contains many petroglyphs and is considered a ancient crossing place.
Birds in flight across a grassy field.
Birds take flight across a grassy field.
Elder (Mylie Lawyer) sitting in front of Old Buffalo hide tipi.
The only known remaining complete buffalo hide tipi belonging to a Nez Perce.
Horses and riders dressed in native regalia.
This horse parade was held in the Spalding picnic area during the parks 50th anniversary in 2015.
Blue Camas flowers in a prairie field.
Camas has been a food staple of the Nez Perce for thousands of years.
Photos: National Park Service

About Nez Perce National Historical Park

Since time immemorial, the valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the inland northwest have been home to the nimíipuu (Nez Perce) people. Extremely resilient, they survived the settling of the United States and adapted to a changed world. Nez Perce National Historical Park consists of 38 places important to the history and culture of the nimíipuu. Explore these places. Learn their stories.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Historical Park
Park State / Territory MembershipIdaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Current Alerts0
Visitor Centers1
Campgrounds0
Things To Do4

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

Elevations in the Park range from 700 feet above sea level to over 8,000, providing a wide range of climatic conditions, that follow the four seasons. Be prepared for very warm weather in the summer months, in particular in the river valleys. The spring and fall are moderate and comfortable.…

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Operating Hours

Summer visitor center operating hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm daily. In the winter, the visitor center is open 5-days a week from Tuesday - Saturday from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days.

Friday8:30AM - 4:00PM
MondayClosed
Saturday8:30AM - 4:00PM
SundayClosed
Thursday8:30AM - 4:00PM
Tuesday8:30AM - 4:00PM
Wednesday8:30AM - 4:00PM

Activities

Arts and CultureCraft DemonstrationsCultural DemonstrationsFoodPicnickingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingSelf-Guided Tours - AutoHikingHorse TrekkingJunior Ranger ProgramWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPark FilmMuseum ExhibitsShopping

Getting There

Driving south bound on U.S. Highway 95 you will find the Visitor Center 10 miles from Lewiston, ID. Roughly one mile after crossing the Clearwater River you will find the park entrance on your left. When driving north on U.S. Highway 95 the Visitor Center will be 3 miles north of Lapwai, ID. The park entrance will be on your right.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed AddressNez Perce National Historical Park, 39063 US Hwy 95, Lapwai, ID, 83540-9715

Topics & Themes

ArcheologyBurial, Cemetery and GravesiteColonization and SettlementExplorers and ExpeditionsFortsMilitaryCavalryIndigenous and Native WarriorBattlefieldsMonuments and MemorialsNative American HeritageReligion and SpiritualityMissionsChurchesWars and ConflictsTribal Conflicts

Things To Do

Watch the Coho Salmon Run on Lapwai Creek

Watch the Coho Salmon Run on Lapwai Creek

Coho Salmon have used the waterways of North Central Idaho for millennia to travel to and from the Ocean. In…

See the Camas Flowers Bloom on Weippe Prairie

See the Camas Flowers Bloom on Weippe Prairie

The prairie has always been a traditional gathering place for the nimí·pu· (Nez Perce). Families come to dig for camas…

Nez Perce Legends Tour

Nez Perce Legends Tour

Three legend sites along the Clearwater river highlighting the trickster Coyote.

Spalding Walking Tour

Spalding Walking Tour

Historic area with cultural, state and national significance.

Visitor Centers

Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center

Contains a museum, park film, junior ranger program, and various maps and brochures.

Nearby National Park Service Sites

These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.