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| The Heart of the Monster from the beginning of the walking trail |
Just
outside of Kamiah along the Clearwater River lies a huge mound. The Nez Perce who live in the area call it
“The Heart of the Monster”.
They have
an ancient legend about it, which is their creation story. In the story, Coyote – who is a hero in a number
of Nez Perce legends – saves the animals from a terrifying monster who is
eating them all. You can hear the whole
story at a kiosk on the site.
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| The Heart of the Monster |
The Heart
of the Monster is right beside Highway 12 and is only a couple of miles outside
of Kamiah. There is a very short
walking trail that allows you to get close to the Heart. The kiosk allowing you to listen to the
whole story is located at the end of this trail.
There is
also an overlook with a shelter that allows you to get a good view of the Heart.
You can also listen to the story in Nimiipuu here, or read it in English from
the walls.
If you want
a little bit more of a walk than the park allows, you can also go just across
the Clearwater River to the Riverfront Park just on the edge of Kamiah and walk
along the river bank.
The Heart of
the Monster is just one of 38 sites that make up the Nez Perce National Historical Park, with sites located in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Montana.
If
you’re looking for a short walk with a mix of history and mythology, then this
is the place for you!
