Weippe Prairie

It was here in the town of Weippe, Idaho, in 1805 that Lewis and Clark made their first contact with the Nez Perce. Tribal members lived on the Weippe Prairie, where they built lodges, worshipped, fished, hunted and harvested camas root. Clark’s first encounter was with three young boys, who hid in the grass when they caught sight of him. Clark gave the boys a small gift and sent them to the village to announce his arrival. Though somewhat anxious to be hosting the first white men to set foot on their land, the Nez Perce offered their guests food, which they ate with gusto. Expedition members stayed with the Nez Perce for more than two weeks, and then returned to stay with the hospitable tribe again on their return journey the following year. The surrounding area is a bonanza for anglers – fishing spots include unlimited brook trout streams. There are also skiing and snowmobile trails nearby.