2019 Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail Highlights

Nez Perce Trail Foundation (NPTF)

OUTREACH

Programs — NPTF held its annual Summer NPNHT Tour and presented about the Nez Perce War of 1877. NPTF held a seminar in Leavenworth, KS with local and national elected representatives and tourism and business representatives that focused on partnering to extend the Nez Perce NHT by including the exile route. USFS coordinated with Discover Your Northwest to host a series of native “Artists In Residence” programs at the Lolo Pass Visitor Center.

Technology — USFS and trail partners launched new Agents of Discovery App Mission sites in the Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana for an educational game that uses geolocation. USFS installed nine Electronic Tour Sites (which allow visitors to connect to Wi-Fi in remote locations) highlighting the interesting history of the forests through the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests’ Historic Routes Project.

PROTECTION

Signage — USFS funded AmeriCorps for the work to install Skinner Meadows interpretive signage on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. 

Maintenance — USFS Lolo NF staff treated invasive plants, cleared 64 trees from the trail, and maintained 204 markers and travel management signs. Wallowa-Whitman NF staff maintained 19.3 miles of the trail. 

Historic Places — The Cow Island Landing Skirmish Site was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places.