Nez Perce National Historical Park

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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.

Quick Facts

State Idaho
Designation National Historical Park
State Code ID,MT,OR,WA
Weather 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…

Location & Map

Nez Perce National Historical Park is located in Idaho.

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.

Wednesday 8:30AM - 4:00PM
Monday Closed
Thursday 8:30AM - 4:00PM
Sunday Closed
Tuesday 8:30AM - 4:00PM
Friday 8:30AM - 4:00PM
Saturday 8:30AM - 4:00PM

Activities

Arts and Culture Craft Demonstrations Cultural Demonstrations Food Picnicking Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Self-Guided Tours - Auto Hiking Horse Trekking Junior Ranger Program Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Park Film Museum Exhibits Shopping Bookstore and Park Store Gift Shop and Souvenirs

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

Address Nez Perce National Historical Park, Lapwai, ID, 83540-9715
Phone 208-843-7009
Email nepe_superintendent@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Archeology Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite Colonization and Settlement Explorers and Expeditions Forts Military Cavalry Indigenous and Native Warrior Battlefields Monuments and Memorials Native American Heritage Religion and Spirituality Missions Churches Wars and Conflicts Tribal Conflicts Colonial/European Contact Conflicts Indian and Frontier Wars Westward Expansion Homesteading The Gold Rush Animals Birds Fish Canyons and Canyonlands Climate Change Forests and Woodlands Geology Grasslands Meadows Mountains River and Riparian Scenic Views Watersheds

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.

Hikiing on short grassy trails over several layers of history, see the mercantile; Watsons Store, the Indian Agents Cabin and…

Visitor Centers

Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center

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

Hours: Please see exceptions to our standard operating hours below.

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