Skinner Meadows to Horse Prarie
Leaving Behind the Big Hole Valley
*Adventurous Travel: roads not recommended for motor homes or vehicles towing trailers; usually passable from July to October*
Leaving the Takseen camp, the Nez Perce moved south through the Big Hole River drainage. A few miles beyond where Skinner Meadows Road 381 enters the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is the broad expanse of Skinner Meadows, bordered on the east and west by thick-timbered slopes. With General Howard three days behind them, this area offered the Nez Perce an excellent place to stop and rest.
Moving southeast, the Nez Perce crossed the Big Hole Divide and followed Bloody Dick Creek downstream toward Horse Prairie.
As you leave Skinner Meadows and cross over the Big Hole Divide, you pass Reservoir Lake Campground, a great place for a picnic and overnight stay. Driving down Forest Service Road 181, you enter Horse Prairie, similar to the BigHole Valley in its rural lifestyle.
There is an abundance of wildlife along the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. All wild animals need to be treated with caution and respect. If you are planning to hike, check with the nearest land management agency for information on local wildlife. Know how to be safe in wild country.
