Orofino Creek: Gold Prospecting in Clearwater County, Idaho

Updated June 2026

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.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Clearwater County
State: Idaho
Postcode: 83546
Coordinates: 46.49613, -115.83684

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.

Best time to visit Orofino Creek

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).

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.

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: April 1, 2026

Idaho Panhandle National Forests — Emerald Creek
Idaho Geological Survey
Spencer Opal Mines (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Orofino Creek

Each chip 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.

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.

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.

More rockhounding in Idaho

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Open Orofino Creek on the map

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