Few People Know There's A Beautiful National Park Historic Site Hiding In This Tiny Idaho Town
By Courtnie Erickson|Published April 25, 2023
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
Tucked away in the heart of the panhandle is one small town you may not even know exists — Orofino. This town, with a population of approximately 3,100 residents, sits right along the north bank of the Clearwater River and is surrounded by pure Idaho beauty including trees, mountains, streams, and more. But, this tiny town is known for more than its beauty. It is also home to the lesser-known Lewis and Clark Canoe Camp Historic Site.
Present-day Orofino may be home to approximately 3,000 residents, but for thousands of years, the Nez Perce people called it home. To learn all about these important people and their history in northern Idaho and the surrounding area, the Nez Perce National Historical Park was created.
This is not your typical national park. It is comprised of 38 individual sites throughout four different states — Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The majority of these sites are located in northern Idaho including the Lewis and Clark Canoe Camp, located four miles west of Orofino.
This is just one of the many Nez Perce Historical Sites in Idaho. Canoe Camp is known as the area where the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition worked with the Nez Perce to carve canoes that would carry the group all the way to the Pacific Ocean in 1805.
When the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived in the area in the early 1800s, they were worn out, weak, and struggling. The Nez Perce not only helped the group build canoes, but they also helped to strengthen and care for the explorers before they continued on their way west.
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Today, you can visit this 4.1-acre site. There is a short hiking trail around Canoe Camp that features interpretive signs that tell you more about the area, the Nez Perce people, and this important story in history.
While short, the trail is perfect for an easy and delightful afternoon stroll. There is no need to rush through and it is a place where adults and children alike can learn and take a step back in time.
To visit, there are no entrance fees and no reservations are necessary. It also doesn't take very long to explore, making it a fun stop to stretch your legs if you are simply traveling through.
After you have visited the Lewis and Clark Canoe Camp in Orofino, make sure to visit several other Nez Perce Historical Park sites. Not far from Canoe Camp, in the town of Lapwai, is the Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center. In the other direction, you can stop by the fascinating Heart of the Monster in Kooskia.
For more information on the Nez Perce National Historical Park and Canoe Camp, visit the National Park Service website.
Have you been to this historical park in Idaho? Did you visit the Lewis and Clark Canoe Camp? Let us know in the comments! And, if you are interested in visiting the Heart of the Monster Historic Site, check out our feature article to learn more.
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