Big Hole National Battlefield

Big Hole is a 975-acre battlefield site in Montana featuring rolling grasslands and mountain views that form the setting of a major 1877 conflict. The landscape remains largely unchanged, giving visitors a clear sense of the terrain and positions where the battle took place.

On August 9, 1877, Colonel John Gibbon's Seventh Infantry attacked a sleeping Nez Perce encampment, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. This battle became a turning point in the conflict, affecting the tribe's desperate journey toward Canada.

The site honors the memory of the Nez Perce people who defended their way of life in this landscape. Visitors walking through the grasslands can sense the weight of that struggle and what it meant for the tribe.

A visitor center provides exhibits and educational materials explaining the battle and its context. The open terrain requires comfortable walking shoes and allows you to follow marked positions across the grassland.

Marked positions on the ground show exactly where military units and the tribal camp were positioned during the conflict. These markers help visitors understand how the battle actually unfolded across the landscape.

Location: Beaverhead County

Operator: National Park Service

GPS coordinates: 45.64919,-113.64605

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:41