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Orofino Creek: Gold Prospecting in Clearwater County, Idaho

Public access3 mineralsClearwater County, IdahoUpdated June 2026
Minerals reported
3
Elevation
2,960 ft
Best months
March to October

Orofino Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Clearwater County, Idaho. Reported finds include gold, sapphire, epidote. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

State
Idaho
Postcode
83546
Get directionsView on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit Orofino Creek

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 35°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 19°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PIERCE station (2 mi away).

Geology at Orofino Creek

This spot sits on Idaho batholith, quartz diorite, mapped as quartz diorite that formed roughly 145 to 66 million years ago. Gold in granitic terrain like this is typically tied to quartz veins along contacts and shear zones, with placer color in the streams that drain them.

Mapped unit
Idaho batholith, quartz diorite
Age
145–66 Ma (Cretaceous)
Rock types
quartz diorite
Elevation
2,960 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

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Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified:

Found at Orofino Creek

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Orofino Creek.

  • Rhodes CreekClearwater County, Idaho · 4 mi awayZircon
  • MussellshellClearwater County, Idaho · 9 mi awayGold
  • General Area (Clearwater NF)Clearwater County, Idaho · 9 mi awayAlmandine Garnet
  • Clearwater RiverIdaho County, Idaho · 28 mi awayGold
  • North Fork Clearwater RiverClearwater County, Idaho · 31 mi awayGold
  • Boulder CreekLatah County, Idaho · 32 mi awayGarnet
  • AgathaNez Perce County, Idaho · 35 mi awayOpal, Opalized Wood
  • Purdue & Canyon CreeksLatah County, Idaho · 37 mi awayRed Garnet

Across the state line from Orofino Creek

Orofino Creek is close enough to the Idaho border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

  • Snake RiverAsotin County, Washington · 56 mi awayFire Opal
  • Bald ButteWhitman County, Washington · 60 mi awaySmoky Quartz
  • ClarkstonAsotin County, Washington · 61 mi awayGold
  • PullmanWhitman County, Washington · 61 mi awayFire Opal
  • Snake RiverAsotin County, Washington · 64 mi awayGold
  • Cedar Creek and Trout CreekMineral County, Montana · 65 mi awayGold

Orofino Creek FAQ

Where is Orofino Creek?+
Orofino Creek is in Clearwater County, Idaho, at 46.49613, -115.83684.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Orofino Creek?+
Orofino Creek is reported to produce Gold, Sapphire, Epidote.
Is collecting allowed at Orofino Creek?+
Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
What tools should I bring to Orofino Creek?+
A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.
When is the best time to visit Orofino Creek?+
The most comfortable months at Orofino Creek are March to October.
How do I get to Orofino Creek?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 46.49613, -115.83684 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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