A Free-Flowing River
With a free-flowing river, Lewiston-Clarkston will offer a wealth of opportunities for outdoor recreation. With its great climate and natural amenities, the area would be the envy of many would-be outdoor tourism destinations.
Photo Credit: Scott Putnam
Locals and visitors will be able to experience thrilling whitewater activities including jet boating the newly liberated 144 river miles, rafting and kayaking along the scenic river corridor, and wave surfing on the river’s exposed standing waves. The region will also be a haven for sport fishing and hunting enthusiasts, offering abundant opportunities year-round. Relaxation will be just steps away on sandy river beaches, while the surrounding landscape will invite exploration of rugged canyons, rolling hills, and diverse wildlife. Rich in history and archaeology, the areas petroglyphs and pictographs along with the unburied Marmes Rockshelter will offer a deeper connection to the past, making it an ideal destination for those seeking both adventure and discovery in the great outdoors.
photo credit: Scott Putnam
Here is a sampling of the outdoor recreation opportunities in the Lewiston/Clarkston area once the river becomes free-flowing again.
photo credit: Garry Heath
Hunting
Big game hunting
Bird hunting
The river corridor and surrounding hills offer exceptional opportunities for big game and upland bird hunting in one of the most scenic settings in the Pacific Northwest.
photo credit:
Owen Deutsch/American Bird Conservancy
Enjoying Nature
Wildlife viewing and birding
Hiking, walking and cycling on the river path
Backpacking and camping
Horseback Riding
Photography
photo credit: Jacob Peterson
Whitewater Sports
Rafting
Kayaking
Wave Surfing
Jet Boating
photo credit: Garry Heath
Motorized Water Sports
Powerboating, water skiing, and personal watercraft riding thrive on the wide, open stretches of a free-flowing Snake River — with new put-in points and river access sites opening up miles of freshwater adventure.
photo credit: unknown
Beach Activities
Swimming
Picnicking
Beach games—volleyball, frisbee, hacky sack
Sunbathing
Tubing
Paddleboarding
Windsurfing
photo credit: Scott Putnam
Sport Fishing
A free-flowing Snake and Clearwater River means the return of wild Chinook salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon. Cast from the bank, wade the shallows, or fish from a drift boat on waters that once defined the Pacific Northwest fishing experience.
photo credit: Scott Putnam
Archaeological Exploration
The Lewiston/Clarkston valley is rich with Native American history and Lewis & Clark heritage. Lowering river levels reveal ancient petroglyphs, village sites, and artifacts that have been submerged for decades — offering a rare window into thousands of years of human life along these rivers.
page photo credits: Scott Putnam, Jacob Peterson