RVing in EXTREME heat in Orofino, Idaho
This summer we wanted to explore different parts of Idaho, so I reached out to our Instagram audience for recommendations of where we should visit. Orofino was on that list!
Where We Stayed
Whatever it is We found an RV park on the Clearwater River that looked enticing, so we booked it! The park didn’t have any amenities except for a shower house, but It was walking distance to downtown restaurants & parks.
The Weather
I always do my research when planning our route, and look for the best time to visit places based on the average temps. The average temperature for Orofino, Idaho in June is 81 degrees, so that sounded good! HOWEVER, an unexpected heat wave rolled in, and we experienced temps as high as 112 degrees during our week there! It was unreal. It is NOT fun to be in an RV in those kind of temperatures.
During this heatwave experience, we studied up on how to keep cool, and then wrote an article about it to share with others, which you can read HERE.
Things To Do In Orofino
There wasn’t a ton to do in this area, but we really wanted to see as much of Idaho this summer as possible, so it was a nice stop to check out this part! Orofino is a beautiful area with a nice but very small downtown area. There really isn’t much going on there, but it’s great for outdoor activities.
The heat made it tough to do much, but every afternoon when the temperatures reached their peak inside the RV, we had to get out and INTO some water!
The Clearwater River
Our RV spot was right on the river, but it wasn’t ideal to get in in that area, so we went to the nearby Orofino City Park and enjoyed the river there. There isn’t a huge bear area but there is easy stair access to the river and the river isn’t very fast, so it’s ideal for just hanging out in the water.
We did see a few people kayaking and tubing down the river, but due to the heat we did not feel like frying ourselves in that sun for more than a few minutes! Enjoying the river more is something we would like to do if we go back again and it NOT 100 degrees.
Orofino City Park Splash Pad
Once we were done with the river and the blazing sun, we walked over to the park splash pad. It was a nice change because by mid afternoon the splash pad was completely in the shade. We never imagined we could feel chilly in 110 degree heat, but with the shade, water, and breeze, we did!
Big Eddy Recreation Site and Launch Area
Dworshak Reservoir has a few recreational areas, campgrounds, and boat launches to choose from. Big Eddy’s was recommended by the RV park staff so that’s where we went! They had a park with a playground, picnic areas, and a lot of shade available. While there is no beach, they do have a blocked off swimming area that is shallow enough hang out in the water, float on some tubes, or swim around.
Evening Activities
There was a youth baseball field within walking distance from our RV park, so after the sun went behind the local hills, we spent a few evenings hitting BP and throwing the ball around.
We also got to see some kind of local Little League all-star championship, which was cool for the kids!
Downtown Orofino
As we shared above, there isn’t much in downtown except for the necessities. It got way too hot to cook dinner so we did get to enjoy eating out twice at Fiesta En Jalisco. They had a huge menu, large portions, and good food (which is why we went twice instead of trying out a different restaurant!
Summary
We would have enjoyed our time here a lot more if it was a little cooler. Even when in the water, the heat and the sun was a lot to handle! If you’re looking for a chill, small town with some good outdoor activities, definitely check out Orofino!