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Established Camping

BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River offers camping near the John Day River, surrounded by rolling hills and open landscapes. Temperatures range from highs in the 80s°F during summer to lows in the 30s°F in winter. Nearby attractions include the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the Painted Hills, providing opportunities for exploration and learning.

Fee Info

Fees are $5.00 per site/night plus $2 for each additional vehicle over the first vehicle, excluding towed vehicles. The Scan & Pay option is an additional .50 cents per $10.

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Location

BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Directions

Service Creek Campground: From Prineville, Oregon, take US 26 east out of town and drive 46.5 miles to OR 207 N. Turn left and drive 23.5 miles. Service Creek Campground and boat launch will be on the right. Muleshoe Campground: From Prineville, Oregon, take US 26 east out of town and drive 46.5 miles to OR 207 N. Turn left and drive 23.8 miles. Pass Service Creek Campground, and at the stop sign take a right onto OR 207 N. Drive for 1.9 miles and Muleshoe Campground will be on your right. Lone Pine Campground: From Prineville, Oregon, take US 26 east out of town and drive 77.7 miles. Turn left onto OR-19 N. Drive 18.4 miles then turn right onto OR-402 E. Drive for 1.8 miles and Lone Pine Campground will be on your right. Big Bend Campground: From Prineville, Oregon, take US 26 east out of town and drive 77.7 miles. Turn left onto OR-19 N. Drive 18.4 miles then turn right onto OR-402 E. Drive for 3 miles and Big Bend Campground will be on your right. Be cautious as this campground is on a sweeping bend in the road.

Coordinates

44.793952 N
120.000967 W

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Drive Time

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Access

  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Connectivity

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Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites

Features

For Campers

  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups

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Reviews

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5.0

out of 5

1 Review

Reviewed Jun. 22, 2020

AMAZING - but do your research

Plan ahead: You will need to reserve your river permits well in advance, have a bit of rafting/kayaking experience, know your portable toilet/trash/water plans, and plan for picking up your vehicle, etc. so this is a review for those that know they want to raft the John Day and are looking for camping spots along the way. These sites are accessible by water only. 

We camped at the bluffs at 130R (on the right side just before the bend) and at “Last Chance” at 119.3L (on the left side that juts out in the bend just before Cathedral Rock).

The bluffs were amazingly beautiful. There was an easy and obvious spot to pull off the river on the right. Up the hill just slightly was a flat area where I assume smaller groups often camp. We were one larger group and made a lower area into a kitchen/dining are (there is a tree for shade which was very welcomed) and there were many smaller areas for tents above that. You get a stunning view as the sun sets beyond the river. We faced out tent towards the open field and slept without the rain cover to take it all in. I can't recommend camping at 130R enough. The river was a bit too fast and low to swim here. It was a bit tricky to find a private spot for the travelling loo. 

The next night, we camped at 119.3L. There were also sites on the opposite bank. This was a broad flat area with a slow pool to swim in. Cathedral Wall was visible from our spot, which was an added bonus. Trees for shade and for loo privacy were appreciated.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River by Raphaela H., June 22, 2020
  • Review photo of BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River by Raphaela H., June 22, 2020
  • Review photo of BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River by Raphaela H., June 22, 2020
  • (20) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Does BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River has water hookups.

What is the elevation of BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River?

BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River is located at 1657 feet.

Is there cell phone reception at BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is no coverage for AT&T, no coverage for T-Mobile, and no coverage for Verizon.

How hard is it to get a campsite at BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River?

There are 21 campsites at BLM John Day Wild and Scenic River and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts