Nez Perce National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Nez Perce
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Nez Perce. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Canyons (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Nez Perce the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:22 AM | 8:10 AM | 3:37 PM | 4:25 PM | 240° | 9h 02m |
| February | 6:47 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:10 PM | 253° | 10h 23m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:37 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:49 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 5:58 AM | 6:38 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:31 PM | 285° | 13h 33m |
| May | 5:12 AM | 5:55 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:10 PM | 299° | 14h 58m |
| June | 4:53 AM | 5:39 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:37 PM | 306° | 15h 44m |
| July | 5:08 AM | 5:53 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:32 PM | 303° | 15h 24m |
| August | 5:44 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:54 PM | 291° | 14h 10m |
| September | 6:22 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:57 PM | 275° | 12h 34m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:59 PM | 259° | 10h 58m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:31 AM | 3:27 PM | 4:13 PM | 244° | 9h 28m |
| December | 7:20 AM | 8:10 AM | 3:09 PM | 3:59 PM | 237° | 8h 39m |
Computed for the park's reference point (46.0702, -115.8761); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Nez Perce, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:00 AM – 5:10 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| April | 2:51 AM – 4:01 AM | 1.2 | 14° |
| May | 12:54 AM – 2:54 AM | 2.0 | 15° |
| June | 11:20 PM – 2:10 AM | 2.8 | 15° |
| July | 11:00 PM – 12:50 AM | 1.8 | 15° |
| August | 9:53 PM – 10:53 PM | 1.0 | 14° |
| September | 8:40 PM – 8:50 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Elevations in the Park range from 700 feet above sea level to over 8,000, providing a wide range of climatic conditions, that follow the four seasons. Be prepared for very warm weather in the summer months, in particular in the river valleys. The spring and fall are moderate and comfortable. Winter conditions can be severe in the higher elevations, with snow and ice making travel difficult and dangerous. Please visit the National Weather Service for comprehensive weather information.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 32% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (78%). August is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Driving south bound on U.S. Highway 95 you will find the Visitor Center 10 miles from Lewiston, ID. Roughly one mile after crossing the Clearwater River you will find the park entrance on your left. When driving north on U.S. Highway 95 the Visitor Center will be 3 miles north of Lapwai, ID. The park entrance will be on your right.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
