Chief Joseph Trail Ride facts for kids
The Chief Joseph Trail Ride is a special annual horse ride. It follows the long journey the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people made in 1877. This was during the Nez Perce War. The entire trail is about 1,300 miles long. It's broken into thirteen different parts, with one part ridden each year. This means it takes 13 years to complete the whole trail! The Appaloosa Horse Club started this ride in 1965.
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Following the Historic Journey
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The trail ride follows the path taken by Chief Joseph and his people. They were trying to avoid being forced onto a reservation by the U.S. Army. Their goal was to reach Canada. The journey went through Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, and aimed for Canada.
The Nimiipuu started their trip in Wallowa Valley, Washington. They traveled from June to October in 1877. The journey ended in the Bear Paw Mountains, Montana. The Nimiipuu, including men, women, and children, were eventually stopped there.
The First Ride in 1965
The very first Chief Joseph Trail Ride happened in 1965. About forty riders took part. The ride began in Enterprise, Oregon, on June 28. It lasted for five days.
About the Trail Ride
The Nimiipuu people were known for being excellent horse riders. The Appaloosa Horse Club started this ride to remember their historic journey. The club also helps organize the ride every year.
Only Appaloosa horses that are registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club can join the ride. The Chief Joseph Trail Ride is the longest trail ride the club hosts. The club also created a special Chief Joseph Trail Ride Youth Experience for younger riders.
The exact start and end points for each yearly segment can change. However, the ride always follows the general path of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail.
How the Trail Ride Works
The entire trail is divided into thirteen parts. Each part is about 100 miles long. Riders complete one of these parts each year. The ride for each segment lasts five days. On each of those days, riders cover about 25 miles.
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The trail starts near Wallowa Lake, Oregon. It goes northeast until it reaches Dug Bar, where it crosses the Snake River. The trail then moves across north-central Idaho, passing through Lewiston and near Lolo Pass.
After entering Montana, the trail goes through Bitterroot Valley. It briefly re-enters Idaho at Bannock Pass. Then it goes into Targhee Pass in Montana, crossing the Continental Divide. The trail even goes through Yellowstone National Park! It follows the Clark Fork River from Wyoming back into Montana. The journey finally ends in the Bear Paw Mountains, which are about forty miles south of the Canadian border.
The Nez Perce people sometimes invite riders to watch their traditional ceremonies. This lets participants experience their culture.
Number of Riders
- In 2012, about 150 riders took part.
- In 2014, there were 130 riders.
- In 2016, 165 riders joined the journey.
- In 2018, 105 riders participated.
- In 2019, there were 110 riders.
