NEZ PERCE (NEE-ME-POO) NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL 

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 

 

I. INTRODUCTION 

HISTORIC OVERVIEW 

 

Traditionally, the Nez Perce were at peace with the white man who settled the mountains and 

valleys of southeastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and northcentral Idaho. Influenced 

by increased settlement and mounting public pressure, Washington Territorial Governor, Isaac 

Stevens, negotiated the 1855 reservation treaty with the Nez Perce chiefs who, in general 

agreement, inscribed 5,000 square miles of traditional homeland as the reservation. 

 

From 1855 to 1862, settlers and miners continued to 

encroach upon the Nez Perce homeland. 

When gold was discovered on the reservation, prospectors entered without regard for treaty or 

reservation boundary and made nearly unbearable depredations on Nez Perce land, livestock, 

and the Indians themselves. The United States Government engaged the Nez Perce in new 

treaty negotiations in 1862 and 1863. Nearly all tribal bands were represented. Feeling that 

the Government was demanding too much, many chiefs refused to sign the treaty of 1863. It is 

said that some chiefs signed as representing the Nez Perce Tribe, but their authority to do so 

was contested by Old Joseph (father of Joseph and Ollokot), White Bird, Looking Glass, and 

other chiefs of the Upper Nez Perce. A political-religious division of the tribe developed. Those 

who signed were lauded as the Christian "treaty" Indians; those who did not sign became 

known as the "nontreaty" Nez Perce. 

 

The nontreaty Nez Perce remained on their traditional homeland, but white settlement of the 

Snake and Clearwater River bottoms and Wallowa Valley continued. For 13 years, the Indians 

had one difficulty after another with the United States Government and its agents. Finally in 

May 1877, in response to an ultimatum, the nontreaty chiefs decided to move onto the 

reservation at Lapwai rather than risk war with the Army. On the way, several young warriors 

rode out to avenge the past killings of tribal members. Their violence and the Army's 

subsequent attack at White Bird Canyon ended the hope for a peaceful move, and the flight of 

the nontreaty Nez Perce began. 

The movements of the Nez Perce along the route resulted from situations and circumstances 

that included: 

(1) the prevailing military and civilian attitude toward the Nez Perce and 

 Indians in general, (2) the season when orders were given to move upon 

 the reservation, (3) the Nez Perce's knowledge of and reaction to military 

movements and military installation locations, (4) area topography, (5) the 

presence of ancient Indian trails and settlers' wagon roads, (6) the location 
 of non-Indian population centers near traditional trails to buffalo country, and (7) 

the attitudes and convictions of the chiefs who led the Nez Perce bands. 

 

Forced to abandon hopes for a peaceful move to the reservation at Lapwai, the Nez Perce chiefs 

decided initially to seek their Crow allies to the east. When this failed, flight to Canada held the 

last promise for peace. Thus, the circuitous route that began in Oregon's Wallowa Valley, 

crossed over the Snake River and Salmon River into the present day Nez Perce Indian 

Reservation in western Idaho, eastward over the Lolo Trail into Montana and the Bitterroot 

Valley, crossing the Continental Divide into the Big Hole Basin at Gibbons Pass. From the Big 

Hole, it again enters Idaho crossing the Continental Divide at Bannock Pass. The route 

traverses eastcentral Idaho in the Lemhi River-Birch Creek Valley, crosses the Camas Meadow 

country of eastern Idaho, and re-enters Montana at Targhee Pass, the last Continental Divide 

crossing. It then bisects Yellowstone National Park and follows the Clark Fork of the 

Yellowstone River northward out of Wyoming into Montana. The trail then proceeds north 

across the plains of central Montana to the foothills of the Bear's Paw Mountains, ending 

approximately 40 miles from the Canadian border. 

 

Nee-Me-Poo is the traditionally accepted name of the Nez Perce Tribe which means "The 

People." 

NEZ PERCE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 

 

The National Trails System Act of October 2, 1968, P.L. 90-543, Sec. 5 (f) (Appendix A) 

requires the development of a Comprehensive Plan for the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National 

Historic Trail. 

 

The Comprehensive Plan provides management objectives and practices to be observed, 

identification of all significant natural, historical, and cultural resources to be preserved, 

cooperative agreement opportunities with State and local governments, and implementation of 

the trail marking plan. It is designed to provide a coordinated framework for the development, 

interpretation, and protection of the trail. Decisions regarding the specific interpretive route, 

development standards, permitted authorities. 

 

The Comprehensive Plan was developed in full consultation with affected Federal agencies, 

Governors of affected States, and an Advisory Council. The Advisory Council consists of the 

Department of Agriculture (Forest Service) as the administering agency and chairperson; 

representatives from the Department of Interior (Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 

National Park Service); a representative appointed by the Governor of each State (Montana, 

Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming); members from the Nez Perce Tribe in Lapwai, Idaho and 

Nespelem, Washington; and other members representing the public from each of the four 

States. (See Appendix F for a complete listing of Advisory Council members.) 

 

Advisory Council meetings were held on May 9, 10, and 11, 1989 in Missoula, Montana; 

November 3 and 4, 1989 in Lewiston, Idaho; and June 15 and 16, 1990 in Mammoth Hot 

Springs, Wyoming. These meetings were advertised in the Federal Register and were open to 

the general public. These public meetings did not disclose any new issues or concerns by the 

public that were within the authority of the council or managing agencies to address. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 

 

Public Law 94-527 of 1976 amended the National Trails System Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-

543) to authorize a study of the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) Trail. The purpose of the study was to 

determine the feasibility and suitability of designating this trail as a component of the National 

Trails System. 

The Forest Service and the National Park Service jointly 

undertook the study in cooperation with other affected 

Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, private 

corporations, interest groups, and individuals. 

 

The following criteria, established in Section 5(b) of the National Trails System Act, as 

amended, guided the historical and cultural assessment portion of the study: 

 

 "To qualify for designation as a national historic trail, a trail must meet all three of the 

following criteria: 

 

 (A) It must be a trail or route established by historic use and must be historically 

significant as a result of that use. The route need not currently exist as a discernible trail to 

qualify, but its location must be sufficiently known to permit evaluation of public recreation 

and historical interest potential. A designated trail should generally accurately follow the 

historic route, but may deviate somewhat on occasion of necessity to avoid difficult routing 

through subsequent development or to provide some route variation offering a more 

pleasurable recreational experience. Such deviations shall be so noted on site. Trail segments 

no longer possible to travel by trail due to subsequent development as motorized 

transportation routes may be designated and marked onsite as segments which link to historic 

trail." 

 

 (B) It must be of national significance with respect to any of several broad facets of 

American history, such as trade and commerce, exploration, migration and settlement, or 

military campaigns. To qualify as nationally significant, historic use of the trail must have had 

a far-reaching effect on broad patterns of American culture. Trails significant in the history of 

native Americans may be included." 

 

 (C) It must have significant potential for public recreational use or historical interest 

based on historic interpretation and appreciation. The potential for such use is generally 

greater along roadless segments developed as historic trails, and at historic sites associated 

with the trail. The presence of recreation potential not related to historic appreciation is not 

sufficient justification for designation under this category." 

STUDY REPORT 

 

Public participation was achieved by means of workshops held in three regional population 

centers: Lewiston, Idaho; Missoula, Montana; and Billings, Montana. At these meetings 

contacts were made with individuals, the Nez Perce Tribal Council, various government 
agencies, and other organizations. A mailing list of 436 individuals and organizations was 

developed. 

The Study Report of March 1982 recommended: 

A) That the entire 1,170-mile route tracing the flight of the Nez Perce be designated by 

Congress as the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail. 

B) That initial development be composed of trail components on federally owned land located 

within the boundary of federally administered areas, and only on those trail components 

identified as high potential route segments. 

C) That complementing State and locally administered components may be designated by the 

Secretary of the administering agency as components of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail 

upon application from State or local government agencies or private interest involved, 

provided these segments meet National Historic Trail criteria and are administered without 

expense to the United States. 

 

D) That the selected Federal and complementing State and locally administered components 

along the 1,170-mile route be developed eventually to provide a total of 319 miles of trail. 

 

E) That alignment of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail be as close as possible to the historic 

route, diverging only as necessary to provide for safety, recreation appeal, economic and 

political considerations, and to reduce environmental impacts. 

F) That, initially, a maximum corridor width of 200 feet be considered for those components of 

the trail located on public lands and those components designated as High Potential Segments. 

G) That a uniform set of standards be developed by the administering Secretary pursuant to 

requirements of the National Trails System Act to ensure that management practices are well 

defined and uniformly applied regarding trail development and management, the trail 

corridor, and general setting. 

 

H) That in keeping with the intent of the National Trails System Act, the trail be regarded as a 

simple facility for the hiker and horseman. 

 

 I) That the most minimal development standards be employed. 

 

 J) That the use of motorized vehicles on the trail by the general public be prohibited except as 

specifically recognized. 

 

K) That interpretive development for the trail be characterized as low key with emphasis placed 

on self-guiding publications, trailhead orientation/information displays, and simple, sturdy 

on-trail devices. 

 

L) That a standardized system of signs be developed to give identity and recognition to the 

trail. 
 M) That inasmuch as the Forest Service manages the greatest amount of land containing High 

Potential Segments, the Secretary of Agriculture have overall responsibility for trail 

administration. 

 

N) That the Secretary of Agriculture act in cooperation with heads of other Federal and State 

agencies, where lands administered by them are involved. 

 

O) That close coordination be established and maintained among local agencies, Indian tribes, 

and private organizations and individuals along the route of the trail. 

 

 P) That within 2 years of designation as a National Historic Trail, a comprehensive 

management plan for development and use be prepared in accordance with requirements of 

the National Trails System Act and amendments. 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DECISION NOTICE 

 

An Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice dated July 1985 (Appendix B) accepted 

the Study Report recommendations with the following modification: 

 

"A major objective of the Preferred Alternative (C-1) is to reduce costs to the government and 

conflicts with private landowners. 

The recommendation is to develop only specific 

 portions of the trail identified as High Potential Route 

 Segments which are located on Federal lands 

 or lands managed by the States." 

 

"On Federal and State-owned lands there are 319 miles of High Potential Trail Segments which 

may be developed as determined by the comprehensive plan." 

 

The agencies charged with implementing any future proposal, as directed by the 

comprehensive plan, must conform to the provisions of several Congressional acts; i.e., the 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the National Historic Preservation Act of 

1966, Executive Order 11593, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation procedures 

(36 CFR, Part 800). 

LEGISLATIVE ACTION 

 

Subsequent Congressional action, Public Law 99-445, October 6, 1986 (Appendix C) amended 

the National Trails System Act by designating the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) Trail as a 

component of the National Trails System. Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act was 

amended further to include the following paragraph and instructions: 

 

The Nez Perce National Historic Trail, a route of approximately 1,170 miles extending from the 

vicinity of Wallowa Lake, Oregon, to Bear's Paw Mountains, Montana, as depicted in the Study 

Report dated March 1982. Instructions specific to this trail are: 
 

y The trail shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. 

 

y No lands or interest therein outside the exterior boundaries of any federally administered 

area may be acquired by the Federal Government for the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. 

y The Secretary may designate lands outside of federally administered areas as segments of the 

trail upon application from the States or local governmental agencies involved if such segments 

meet the criteria established in the Act and are administered by such agencies without expense 

to the United States. 

 

y So that significant route segments and sites recognized as associated with the Nez Perce Trail 

may be distinguished by suitable markers, the Secretary is authorized to accept the donation of 

suitable markers for placement at appropriate locations. Any such markers associated with the 

Nez Perce Trail which are to be located on lands administered by any other department or 

agency of the United States may be placed on such lands only with the concurrence of the head 

of such department or agency.