Tolo Lake, Nez Perce national historical park

Tolo Lake is the largest natural water body on the Camas Prairie. The Nez Perce name for Tolo Lake is Tepahlewam or Split Rocks. Forced from the Wallowa Valley in northwestern Oregon, several bands of Nez Perce gathered here on June 2, 1877, in preparation for their move onto the new reservation. Angered by the forced move, several young warriors decided to seek revenge on some settlers who had killed some of their relatives. As a result of this action and a second raid two days later, the first battle of Nez Perce Flight of 1877 starts at White Bird Canyon.