Pink House Recreation Site is a developed river site run by the Bureau of Land Management's Cottonwood Field Office on the south bank of the Clearwater River, about 5 miles west of Orofino in Clearwater County, Idaho. It sits at roughly 980 feet, a short way downstream from where the North Fork joins the main river at Ahsahka. The swimming spot is the large sandy beach in front of the day-use pavilions, a short distance upstream of one of the busiest boat ramps on the Clearwater above Lewiston.

The entrance is at 91 Pink House Road, just off US 12. Day visitors have three paved lots: a big one near the entrance with 32 spaces sized for trucks and trailers, an 8-space lot to the north, and a 5-space lot by the tent sites. From the lots and pavilions it's a short walk on paved paths to the sand. Vehicles are not allowed on the beach from June 1 through September 30, so in summer you park and walk. Overnight parking in the day-use lots is prohibited.

The beach is a wide stretch of sand that slopes into the river gradually, so you can wade in and pick your depth. This is the main stem of a large river, though, and the water keeps moving past the beach even when the surface looks flat. Dworshak Dam on the North Fork releases cold water through much of the summer, and the river here can feel colder than the air temperature suggests. There are no lifeguards. The BLM lists swimming and tubing as regular activities here, and this stretch is a popular float because the rapids above Orofino are mild and there are more than ten access sites to put in and take out.

Day use is free. The BLM's posted fees at Pink House cover only overnight camping ($18 a night for a full-hookup RV site, $10 for a tent site, $4 a night for an extra vehicle) and the two reservable pavilions ($25 a day for the small one, $50 for the large one, booked on Recreation.gov). The site is open year-round with a full-time campground host.

Watch for boat traffic. The concrete ramp just downstream of the beach is open year-round and gets steady use from anglers after salmon and steelhead, so stay clear of the ramp and the water boats use to reach it. River levels can rise or drop with dam releases and spring runoff. In March 2026 the BLM shut the flush toilets and RV dump station for a sewage lift station replacement, and on July 22, 2026 it announced the work was finished and those facilities were back in service.

The campground has 15 RV sites with water, power and sewer and three tent sites with river views, all first come, first served. There are drinking water hydrants, an accessible fountain near the large pavilion, flush and vault toilets, and Lewis and Clark Trail interpretive panels near the day-use area. Nez Perce National Historical Park's Canoe Camp is about a mile away, and Dworshak Dam and its visitor center are about 12 miles away.