Big Hole National Battlefield

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Multiple tepee poles and a river are silhouetted against a dawn sky.
Today tepee poles stand sentinel at the site of August 9th, 1877 dawn attack at the Big Hole.
Blue camas flowers dot a green field with tepee poles in the background.
The Nez Perce chose their camp site in the Big Hole in part due to the Camas, whose roots they gathered prior to the August 9th attack.
a cannon overlooks a valley and distant mountains
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.
A large squared-off granite monument standing in a forest clearing
In 1883 the United States Government erected this monument in honor of the soldiers and volunteers that served and died at the 1877 Battle of the Big Hole.
Stone carving of a Nez Perce Warrior's head in full regalia.
This monument, erected on the Big Hole Battlefield in 1928, reads; "To the everlasting memory of the brave warriors Chief Joseph's Band who fought on these grounds in the Nez Perce War of 1877."
Three large stone monuments and four interpretive signs overlook a series of low hills.
Photos: National Park Service

About Big Hole National Battlefield

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.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Battlefield
Park State / Territory MembershipMontana
Current Alerts0
Visitor Centers1
Campgrounds0
Things To Do1

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

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.

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Montana. 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

The grounds and trails at Big Hole National Battlefield are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

FridaySunrise to Sunset
MondaySunrise to Sunset
SaturdaySunrise to Sunset
SundaySunrise to Sunset
ThursdaySunrise to Sunset
TuesdaySunrise to Sunset
WednesdaySunrise to Sunset

Activities

Arts and CultureCultural DemonstrationsFishingFreshwater FishingFoodPicnickingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingHikingFront-Country HikingJunior Ranger ProgramSkiingCross-Country SkiingSnowshoeingWildlife WatchingBirdwatching

Getting There

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.

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 Address16425 Highway 43 West, Wisdom, MT, 59761
Phone406-689-3155
Emailbiho_visitor_information@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Burial, Cemetery and GravesiteMilitaryInfantry and MilitiaUS ArmyIndigenous and Native WarriorBattlefieldsMonuments and MemorialsNative American HeritageTragic EventsMassacresWars and ConflictsTribal ConflictsIndian and Frontier WarsWestward ExpansionTrails

Things To Do

Explore the Walking Trails

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,…

Visitor Centers

Visitor Center at Big Hole National Battlefield

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…

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.

Nearby Cities for Trip Planning

These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.

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