Big Hole Battlefield

Updated: February 3, 2026

Big Hole National Battlefield, located about 10 miles west of Wisdom in southwestern Montana's "Valley of 10,000 Haystacks" along Highway 43, preserves the site of a pivotal battle in the Nez Perce War of 1877. Here, on August 9-10, 1877, U.S. Army soldiers under Colonel John Gibbon and civilian volunteers attacked a large Nez Perce camp during the Nez Perce people's attempt to escape forced relocation and reach safety in Canada.

At the time of the battle, the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) traveling through the Big Hole Basin included roughly 700-800 people in all-families, elders, and children as well as about 200 warriors. They had crossed from Idaho into Montana and paused in the valley, believing they had gained some distance from pursuing troops. Before dawn on August 9, Gibbon's 7th Infantry and local volunteers launched a surprise attack on the sleeping camp, causing heavy casualties among Nez Perce men, women, and children. Nez Perce warriors quickly counterattacked and fought a fierce, day-long battle that forced the soldiers into defensive positions.

Both sides suffered serious losses. Historians estimate that between 60 and 90 Nez Perce people were killed, along with 29 soldiers and volunteers, and many more were wounded. Although the Nez Perce managed to hold off the attackers long enough to escape with most of their remaining people and horses, the battle was a devastating blow in the middle of their long flight. After Big Hole, they continued east and eventually turned north toward Canada, a journey that would end two months later at Bear Paw Battlefield near Chinook.

Today, Big Hole National Battlefield is part of Nez Perce National Historical Park and is managed by the National Park Service as both a historic site and a sacred burial ground. A visitor center near the entrance offers exhibits on the Nez Perce Flight of 1877, the battle itself, Nez Perce culture, and 19th-century military practices. An introductory film and displays help visitors understand the larger 1,170-mile, 126-day journey the Nez Perce undertook across four present-day states.

Several trails begin near the visitor center and lead through key parts of the battlefield, including the Nez Perce camp area, the siege site on the hillside, and viewpoints over the Big Hole River valley. Wayside signs along the trails interpret what happened at each location and invite visitors to reflect on the people who fought and died there. The battlefield itself is open from sunrise to sunset year-round, and the trails may be explored on foot in summer and by snowshoe or cross-country skis in winter.

The visitor center is generally open daily with longer hours in summer and reduced hours in the colder months; it is closed on certain federal holidays in late fall and winter, so visitors should check current schedules before traveling. Ranger talks, special programs, and annual commemorations-often attended by Nez Perce descendants-help keep the stories of the battle and the broader Nez Perce Flight alive for future generations.

Website: Big Hole Battlefield

Updated: February 3, 2026