Overview
Orofino is in North Central Idaho.
3 sights · 1 things to do · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Orofino
Dworshak Visitor Center
Here you can visit the third tallest dam in the U.S., right behind Oroville and Hoover. It was built in 1973 and stands at 717 from the riverbed, looking like a concrete fortress. Tours give you a chance to explore the t…
Dworshak Fish Hatchery
The original objective was to replenish fish populations that might have been depleted by the dam, but it is fun to view the fish and surroundings with the dam in the background.
Canoe Camp - Nez Perce National Historic Park
This marks the site where Lewis and Clark worked with the Nez Perce to carve out canoes that would take them to the Pacific. It can be a quick stop.
Clearwater Historical Museum
Regional historical displays.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 87°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Superior)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LWS Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport, Lewiston — 37 mi away. Directions
- PUW Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, Pullman — 44 mi away. Directions
- GEG Spokane International Airport, Spokane — 99 mi away (major hub). Directions
Orofino is off the beaten track. It lacks services by mass public transit, and your best bet is to drive there on US Highway 12.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Canoe Camp - Nez Perce National Historic Park, Dworshak Fish Hatchery
- Afternoon Dworshak Visitor Center, Clearwater Historical Museum
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Orofino is the main city on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. It is close to where Lewis & Clark put their canoes in on the Clearwater River for the last stretch of their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. It is also close to the Dworshak Dam, the third-highest dam in the United States, behind Oroville Dam in California and Hoover Dam on the Colorado.
Its setting amongst tumbly semi-arid hills and the Clearwater River is quite attractive.
Get in
Orofino is off the beaten track. It lacks services by mass public transit, and your best bet is to drive there on US Highway 12.
See
Do
Sleep
Nearby
Cottonwood
City / town · 5 listings · 30 mi away
Lewiston
City / town · 12 listings · 36 mi away
Clarkston
City / town · 8 listings · 38 mi away
Moscow
City / town · 36 listings · 39 mi away
Pullman
City / town · 33 listings · 46 mi away
Colfax
City / town · 4 listings · 59 mi away
Pomeroy
City / town · 2 listings · 64 mi away
Wallace
City / town · 37 listings · 70 mi away
My experience
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