Horse Prairie to Bannock Pass
In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time
*Adventurous Travel: roads not recommended for motor homes or vehicles towing trailers; usually passable from July to October*
To the southwest of here is where the Montague-Winters ranch was located.
Once on Horse Prairie, near Trail Creek, the Nez Perce crossed a well-worn trail used in 1805 by Lewis and Clark to reach the Lemhi Valley on their westward trek. Today, this route is designated as part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
After the events at Big Hole, exchanges with the settlers changed dramatically. Tragedy struck again. Whilesearching for horses, a group of warriors came upon theMontague-Winters ranch. As they approached the house, shooting broke out and four settlers, including William Montague, were killed. After ransacking the house for supplies and bandages, the warriors rounded up all the available horses and left.
"We now kept moving for three suns, watching always for horses. It was good to have fresh ones. Best too, that none be left for soldiers. It was aimed that no horses could be found by soldiers anywhere we passed.”
– Yellow Wolf (Hímiin maqsmáqs)
By mutual consent, leadership had passed from Looking Glass to Lean Elk (Poker Joe)who kept the people movingat a fast pace. The bands traveled almost due south across Horse Prairie toward Bannock Pass. Today, thisroute closely parallelsMontana State Route 324 as it leaves Horse Prairie and approaches Bannock Pass.
"From the Big Hole, Chief Hototo [Lean Elk or Poker joe] was the guide and leader of the Nez Perces. He had been all over that country, east and north, and he knew the land and the trails. He understood, and would have the people up early in the morning, and travel till about ten o’clock. Then he ordered a stop and cooking was done while the horses led upon the grass. About two o’clock he would travel again. Kept going till about ten o’clock at night. ... In this way, the people covered many miles each sun. They were outdistancing the soldiers, gaining on them all the time. Everybody was glad.”
– Hair Combed Over Eyes (Wo olen), Tribal Historian and Warrior
As you reach the summit of Bannock Pass, take time to read the informational signs. Step outside your car and notice the old rail bed, where the Gilmore and Pittsburg Railroad wound its way up the mountain. Built in 1867, the road leading over the pass and into Idaho was known as the Bannock Wagon Road; it served as a route to the gold fields at Bannack.
