Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River, ID

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Idaho Side of Hells Canyon, Looking to the Oregon Side
Idaho Side of Hells Canyon, Looking to the Oregon Side - Rickmouser45, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Today’s Forecast:

☀
61°F
High: 63° | Low: 40°
Current Temperature
Clear
Station: KLWS
Observed at: 8:30 pm CDT on 9/26/26
Wind: 7 mph | Humidity: 34%
Tonight:Mostly cloudy. Low around 40, with temperatures rising to around 42 overnight. East wind around 3 mph.
Sunday:Mostly cloudy. High near 67, with temperatures falling to around 65 in the afternoon. Northeast wind around 3 mph.
Sunday Night:Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 2 mph.
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Today’s Report:

🛶 Paddling

Excellent
  92 /100

Ideal conditions for paddling. Comfortable temperature (high near 67°F), light wind, and clear forecast.

  • Temp: Marginal weather factor
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Ideal conditions for paddling. Comfortable temperature (high near 72°F), light wind, and clear forecast.

🚲 Biking

Excellent
  100 /100

Ideal conditions for biking. Comfortable temperature (high near 67°F), light wind, and clear forecast.

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Ideal conditions for biking. Comfortable temperature (high near 72°F), light wind, and clear forecast.

⛺ Camping

Excellent
  100 /100

Ideal conditions for camping. Comfortable temperature (high near 67°F), light wind, and clear forecast.

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Ideal conditions for camping. Comfortable temperature (high near 72°F), light wind, and clear forecast.

🎪 Outdoor Events / Activities

Excellent
  100 /100

Ideal conditions for outdoor events / activities. Comfortable temperature (high near 67°F), light wind, and clear forecast.

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Ideal conditions for outdoor events / activities. Comfortable temperature (high near 72°F), light wind, and clear forecast.

About Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River

Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River is an Idaho destination for riverfront camping, paddling, cycling, parks, and events around the Lewiston confluence.

Make the Most of a Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River Day

Match the route, launch, facility, or turnaround time to wind, precipitation, temperature, smoke, water, snow, road access, and daylight. Keep a shorter or more sheltered backup ready.

Weather Tips for Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River

  • Check official access notices, alerts, road or trail conditions, fire restrictions, and local forecasts before leaving.
  • Check river flow, reservoir wind, cold-water conditions, waves, lightning, and verified local ice reports before water plans; no forecast alone proves that ice is safe.
  • Carry layers, water, navigation, sun protection, and seasonal traction or flotation appropriate to the activity.
  • Allow extra time for remote roads, mountain passes, wildfire smoke, spring runoff, and limited winter daylight.

Nearby Towns and Areas

This page can also be useful when planning outdoor time near:

  • Lewiston
  • Clarkston
  • Snake River
  • Clearwater River
  • Hells Canyon gateway

Plan Around the Conditions

Choose the safest version of a Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River day by matching the activity to current wind, precipitation, temperature, smoke, water or snow conditions, access, and daylight.

7-Day Forecast for Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River

☀
61°F
High: 63° | Low: 40°
Current Temperature
Clear
Station: KLWS
Observed at: 8:30 pm CDT on 9/26/26
Wind: 7 mph | Humidity: 34%
Sun ☁
67° 44°
0%
Mon ☀
72° 46°
0%
Tue ⛅
75° 52°
4%
Wed ⛅
74° 49°
6%
Thu ⛅
75° 49°
3%
Fri ⛅
72° 48°
3%
Sat ☀
73° --°
0%

7-Day High Temperature Trend

67° Sun 72° Mon 75° Tue 74° Wed 75° Thu 72° Fri 73° Sat

7-Day Low Temperature Trend

44° Sun 46° Mon 52° Tue 49° Wed 49° Thu 48° Fri 50° Sat

📊 7-Day Outdoor Outlook

Good Fair Poor 100 Sun 100 Mon 100 Tue 100 Wed 100 Thu 100 Fri 100 Sat
Forecast data from the National Weather Service  |  Last Updated: September 26, 2026 9:34 pm CDT

Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River Weather by Season

Winter

Winter at Hells Gate State Park & Clearwater River can bring snow, ice, wind, short daylight, and rapidly changing road or trail access.

Spring

Spring brings freeze-thaw mud, snowmelt, high rivers, cold water, and lingering mountain snow. Lower routes usually open well before high passes and backcountry trailheads.

Summer

Summer usually offers the broadest access, but dry heat, thunderstorms, lightning, wildfire smoke, fire restrictions, reservoir wind, and cold mountain water can alter plans.

Fall

Fall brings cooler air, shorter daylight, hunting-season awareness, and early snow at elevation. Confirm seasonal services and allow extra travel time on remote roads.

Key Climate Data Points

  • Annual average temperature: around 51–57°F, using the relevant local and elevation context.
  • Annual snowfall: usually 5–20 inches at river level, while high rims receive much more.
  • Warmest months: July and August are normally warmest.
  • Coolest months: December and January are typically coolest.
  • Wettest season: winter and spring usually provide the greatest mountain precipitation, with local variation.
  • Driest season: midsummer is generally driest, despite isolated thunderstorms.
  • Best outdoor window: June through October for warm-season access, with midwinter best at established winter destinations.