Targhee Pass

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Categories:

Things to See,  Historical Markers/Interpretive Sign

Keywords:

• Targhee Pass, 
• Montana Historical Markers

General info

Location: Hwy 20, west of West Yellowstone

This pass across the Continental Divide takes its name from an early-day Bannack Chief. Free trappers and fur brigades of the Missouri River and Rocky Mountain Fur companies were familiar with the surrounding country in the early part of the last century.

Chief Joseph led his band of Nez Perce Indians through this pass in 1877 while making his famous 2,000-mile march from the central Idaho country in an effort to evade U.S. troops and find sanctuary in Canada. He was closely followed through the pass by the pursuing forces of General Howard. Joseph repulsed or outdistanced all the commands sent against him until finally forced to surrender to Col. Nelson A. Miles at the Battle of the Bears Paw, when within a comparatively few miles of the Canadian line.