Nez Perce Creek, Wyoming
August 23, 1877 - The capture of John Shively
From their camp near present-day Madison junction, the main band of Nez Perce moved south along the Firehole River and then continued east over the Central Plateau following Nez Perce Creek. The Nez Perce consisted of young men and women, babies and toddlers, elderly and sick. Stretched out across the landscape, they formed a column almost three miles in length.
Just half a mile from where the tourists were camped on August 23, prospector and ex-soldier John Shively set up his camp. That evening Nez Perce scouts entered his camp looking for supplies. From there they saw the lights of the Radersberg camp which they, as well as Shively, visited the next morning.
On the evening of the second day, after leaving the Radersburg party, I was camped on the Lower Geyser Basin. I was eating my supper, and, on hearing a slight noise, looked up, and, to my astonishment, four Indians, in war paint, were standing within ten feet of me, and twenty or thirty more had surrounded me not more than forty feet off. I sprang for my gun, but was rudely pushed back.”
– John Shively
(prospector and ex-soldier)
“This white man [Shively] was asked if he knew the way to the head of Yellowstone Park, toward the Crow Indian lands…. He said he did and would go with us. Said his horses were lost, and he was on hunt for them. The warrior told him he would give him horse to ride, and that it would be a gift for him to return on.”
– Hímiin Maqsmáqs
(Yellow Wolf)
Near here on the afternoon of August 30, General Howard’s party encountered Al Oldham who had received a very painful wound during the encounter of the Radersburg party with the Nez Perce on August 24. Mr. Oldham managed to remain hidden after he was wounded and had been slowly making his way toward safety. Oldham managed to crawl down the creek and eventually was found.
Nez Perce Trail / Mary Mountain Trail
21 miles one way
This is a moderately strenuous hike if you do it all in one day Mary Mountain has two trailheads. The Nez Perce trailhead is located 0.2 mile south of Nez Perce Creek. The Mary Mountain trailhead is located just north of the Alum Creek pullout and 4 miles south of Canyon Junction.
From the Nez Perce trailhead, hike east through open meadows dotted with grazing bison. Elk and bison can
sometimes be seen in the distant meadows. The eastern trailhead is located just north of the Alum Creek pullout and 4 miles south of Canyon Junction.
Nez Perce / Mary Mountain makes for a long day hike, and you will need to have a vehicle awaiting you at the opposite trailhead. For shorter day hikes, the trail affords good opportunity to walk as far as you wish and then turn back.
PERMIT:
Overnight camping in Yellowstone National Park requires a backcountry permit. Check out the latest fees and more
details at nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/backcountryhiking.htm.
