Nez Perce Trail

The Nez Perce's long flight from the US Army follows this trail from Oregon and Idaho. Forty miles from freedom, near Chinook, the last battle resulted in their exile to Canada and Oklahoma.

• Cow Island Landing - Located on a remote stretch of the Upper Missouri, it is accessible by boat. The supply depot at this western limit of low-water navigation refused to sell supplies to the Nez Perce. In a skirmish in October 1877, the Nez Perce destroyed the supplies before continuing up Cow Creek Canyon toward Canada.


• Bear Paw Battlefield - A tribute to the Nez Perce people and the battle that ended the Nez Perce War of 1877 is located 16 miles south of Chinook on Route 240. From here the trail divides as some escaped north to Canada and others were relocated to Oklahoma. Annual Commemoration takes place the first week of October each year.