The Port of Clarkston is the Gateway to Hells Canyon and the center for endless outdoor recreational opportunities. Located at the head of the Columbia/Snake River navigation system, the Port of Clarkston offers a mild climate that supports a wide range of activities including golfing, hiking, riding, hunting, camping, and a host of water-related sports like sailing, fishing, swimming, jet-boating, and skiing.

The Port of Clarkston has a Mediterranean climate with relatively cool summers and mild winters. Temperatures in the Port of Clarkston range from an average high of 23°C (73°F) in July and August to an average low of about 0°C (32°F) in December and January. Precipitation in the Port of Clarkston is low, ranging from a low of about 1.9 centimeters (0.75 inches) from July through September to a high of about four centimeters (1.6 inches) in May. Humidity levels in the Port of Clarkston range from a low of about 60% in July and August to a high of about 85% in November and December. Snow comes to the Port of Clarkston from mid-October through late April each year, peaking in January at 30 centimeters (12 inches).

The Port of Clarkston is the gateway to Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America. A reminder of the last ice age, Hells Canyon was formed over millions of years by the 1600-kilometer (1000-mile) Snake River. River craft (inflatable rafts and jet boats) are largely the only way to enter Hells Canyon, and its rapids offer wild rides for adventurers. In addition to water adventures, Hells Canyon offers historic homesteads, shipwrecks, abandoned mines, wildlife, and petroglyphs. For thousands of years, the Nez Perce people inhabited the canyon, leaving 150 known archaeological sites today.

Visitors can partake in a wide range of activities at Hells Canyon. In addition to whitewater rafting, jet boat and aerial tours are available. There are four local golf courses, several local wineries and breweries, several fine restaurants, and unlimited opportunities to catch some of the biggest steelhead on record.

Just 18 kilometers (11 miles) east of the Port of Clarkston, the Nez Perce National Historical Park is a museum and information center that teaches travelers about the history and customs of the Nez Perce Tribe. The park contains 38 historic sites across four states and 24 interpretive sites. Visitors can attend powwows and other community events where the Nez Perce welcome them as openly as they welcomed Lewis and Clark more than 200 years ago.

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