This is the story of the so-called Inland Empire of teh Northwest, that rugged and majestic region bounded east and west by the Cascades and the Rockies, from the time of the great exploration of Lewis and Clark to the tragic defeat of Chief Joseph in 1877. Explorers, fur traders, miner, settlers, missionaries, ranchers and above all a unique succession of Indian chiefs and their tribespeople bring into focus one of the permanently instructive chapters in the history of the American West.

The rivers, canyons, and prairies of the Columbia Basin are the homeland of the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce, or Nimiipuu, inhabited much of what is now north central Idaho and portions of Oregon and Washington for thousands of years. The story of how western settlement drastically affected the Nimiipuu is one of the great and at times tragic sagas of American history. Renowned western historian Alvin M. Josephy Jr. describes the Nimiipuu’s attachment to the land and their way of life, religion, and vibrant culture. He also chronicles the western expansion that displaced them, beginning with the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805 and followed by the influx of traders and trappers, then miners and farmers. Josephy traces the ill fortune of the Nez Perce as their homeland was carved up by treaties, creating an atmosphere of hostility that would culminate in the Nez Perce war of 1877 and conclude with Chief Joseph’s famous pronouncement: “I will fight no more forever.” Despite the challenges of the past, the Nimiipuu have maintained their ties to the land. In his introduction to the book, Jeremy FiveCrows details how the tribe has fought for self government to undo the damage wrought by shortsighted practices.

In the centuries of war between Indians and whites one episode is surely epical: the flight of the Nez Perce. Provoked by bad treaties and bitter memories, in 1877 a few Nez Perce raided homesteads in Idaho and killed their inhabitants. The raid quickly escalated into a series of skirmishes, and at last involved Chief Joseph and the ablest Nez Perce warriors in a prolonged chase by the army for over a thousand miles through Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The band of Nez Perce astonished military experts by their tactical ingenuity, swift maneuvers, daring, and endurance. By the time the chase concluded, barely forty miles from the Canadian border, the Nez Perce had left behind a record of heroic sacrifices, spectacular escapes, and incredible courage.

The 1877 flight of the Nez Perce from their homelands while pursued by U.S. soldiers and citizen volunteers is one of the most compelling and sorrowful events in American history. The Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail traces the route taken by the 800 Nez Perce men, women, and children from May to October 1877. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, this unique book chronicles the heartbreaking retreat of Chief Joseph and his people. It offers an essential guide for anyone who wishes to follow all or part of the Trail. The Nez Perce Trail stretches for 1,500 miles from Wallowa Lake, Oregon, through Idaho and Yellowstone Park, ending at the Bear Paw Battlefield, near Chinook, Montana. This historical guidebook splits the Trail into thirteen segments, each with its own historical chronology and travel plan, with alternative routes for mainstream, adventurous, and intrepid travelers. Each route includes maps, GPS coordinates, and recommendations for side trips. Period photographs and firsthand accounts from those who first traveled the trail--the Nez Perce, soldiers, settlers--bring history to life. For more than fifteen years, Following the Nez Perce Trail has led travelers and historians as they've retraced the flight of the Nez Perce from their homeland in the Pacific Northwest to their exile in Oklahoma and Canada. This new edition has been updated and expanded by author Cheryl Wilfong, and includes a new emphasis on the experiences of the Nez Perce women and children. Her detailed knowledge of the Nez Perce Trail informs every page of this indispensable guide.