Looking for the best John Day pet-friendly camping? The Dyrt can help you find the best campsites for you and your dog. You're sure to find the perfect pet-friendly campsite for your Oregon camping excursion.
$30 - $37 / night
Strawberry Campground is located at the edge of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Set amongst ponderosa pine in a beautifully wooded area, the campground is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to hike, hunt, fish or simply relax. Strawberry Basin Trailhead is located at the campground. Strawberry Basin Trail #375 connects to other trails in the wilderness allowing for day hiking or backpacking trips.
$15 / night
Magone Lake Campground is situated along its namesake lake in the northern reaches of Malheur National Forest in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. Visitors enjoy fishing, canoeing, swimming and hiking.
The Magone Lake area offers swimming, fishing, hiking and mountain biking opportunities. The lake contains eastern brook and rainbow trout. A boat ramp is available on-site. Visitors also enjoy viewing wildflowers and interesting geology throughout the region.
The Magone Lake area offers swimming, fishing, hiking and mountain biking opportunities. The lake contains eastern brook and rainbow trout. A boat ramp is available on-site. Visitors also enjoy viewing wildflowers and interesting geology throughout the region.
The campground is set in a forest of Engelmann spruce and ponderosa pine. Magone Lake covers about 50 acres and features both deep holes of up to 100 feet and shoals on the north side. Geologists believe Magone Lake was created by a landslide in the early 1800s. It is located in the southern reaches of the Malheur National Forest.
For facility specific information, please call (541) 575-3000.
$25 / night
Nestled on the edge of a lake, high in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon, this popular campground is only 8 miles west of the historic Fremont Powerhouse and 12 miles west of the old mining town of Granite. The campground features 28 campsites and 7 accessible toilet facilities. Other features include a 2-mile hiking trail around the lake with nearby access to wilderness and scenic area trails, a boat ramp and 2 docks. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home.____ Besides beautiful scenery, the lake offers many opportunities for wildlife viewing--particularly a nesting pair of osprey that return annually. Activities in this area include fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, hunting, and photography. Within 20 miles are several historic sites.
A 2-mile hiking trail encircles the lake, providing access to more secluded spots where solitude can be enjoyed. Bicyclists can also enjoy the trail although there are a couple of spots bikes might need to be walked, depending on skill level. Anglers can fish for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, and kokanee and crawfish boils are a popular dinner option. There are 2 boat docks adjacent to the campground, as well as a boat ramp and trailer parking. Motorized boats are allowed on the lake, but wakes and jet skis are not allowed. There are opportunities for viewing wildlife such as deer, elk, bear, river otters, and osprey. Mushroom and berry picking are available in season. Other nearby trails access the North John Day Wilderness Area and Vinegar Hill Scenic Area. An interpretive sign about the beetle infestation is located in a few spots within the campground.
A 2-mile hiking trail encircles the lake, providing access to more secluded spots where solitude can be enjoyed. Bicyclists can also enjoy the trail although there are a couple of spots bikes might need to be walked, depending on skill level. Anglers can fish for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, and kokanee and crawfish boils are a popular dinner option. There are 2 boat docks adjacent to the campground, as well as a boat ramp and trailer parking. Motorized boats are allowed on the lake, but wakes and jet skis are not allowed. There are opportunities for viewing wildlife such as deer, elk, bear, river otters, and osprey. Mushroom and berry picking are available in season. Other nearby trails access the North John Day Wilderness Area and Vinegar Hill Scenic Area. An interpretive sign about the beetle infestation is located in a few spots within the campground.
The area around Olive Lake is rich in history. The dam and gates on the north side of the lake were constructed as part of a hydroelectric system to support gold mining activities within the northern Blue Mountain Region. Historically, water from the lake flowed through a wooden pipeline to the Fremont Powerhouse, where it was used to produce electricity for mines and towns in the area. Fremont Powerhouse is located approximately 7 miles east and the historic moning town of Granite is 12 miles east of Olive Lake along Forest Road 73.__
$25 / night
Starr Campground is located just off of US Highway 395 making it very easy to get to. The campground has an upper level that is closer to the highway, yet still set back amongst beautiful pondersa pines. The lower part of the campground is set further back in the pine trees allowing for a more secluded experience. This beautiful campground sets in a prime spot for hunters, hikers and wildlife enthusiats. Within a 7 mile drive of the campground are numerous trailheads leading into the beautiful Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Just a few more miles down the road is beautiful Logan Valley, this area is amazing during the spring, summer and fall months affording wildflower, wildlife and scenery viewing. Starr Campground is a great base camp spot for those wanting to explore the Murderers Creek area and have the opportunity to see the wildhorses that reside there.
Wickiup Campground sets off of Forest Road 15 tucked amongst trees, next to Canyon Creek, the perfect place to relax in the shade during the summer months and listen to the creek flow past. This is a beautiful campground that offers opportunities for picnicking and stream fishing. The campground is a good starting point for hiking, viewing wildlife and hunting during the summer and fall months. During the winter the entry to the campground makes a great starting point for snowmobile riders.
$6 - $9 / night
This is a great destination for berry picking, it is also a wonderful base camp for anyone wanting to hike, hunt or just explore the Malheur National Forest. The Sumpter Valley Interpretive Trail, Davis Creek Trail as well as other great recreational activities are just a short drive from the campground.
Campsites are fine, but opposed to stated, it is not a dispersed campsite. We paid 34 dollar for a RV.
There are a few spots and spurs off NF-6510 that would make for good boondocking. Might be hard to get level, but other than that it’s pretty nice. The spot on the map has a stone fire ring. There are a few spots before and after that would be suitable to setup camp as well.
I got to the spot marked on the map in my extended Transit, but I’m sure road conditions may change with the seasons, storms; etc. Depending on your comfort, you may only want to head this way with high-clearance vehicle.
This is always such a great place to stop when traveling between Idaho and western Oregon. It has lots of shade, lawn, and hedges that offer privacy between the large camp sites. Super clean showers and restrooms, dog friendly, and a nice trail to walk along next to the river. Yes, the sites closer to the road are noisier due to traffic, while the ones closer to the river are the buggiest in the summer, but if you want hook ups, easy access, and an RV dump and don't mind paying for all these amenities, this is the place. We stayed in site 9, which has a super long paved and level driveway giving you lots of peace and quiet.
We spent one night here in July 2024. Did not feel crowded. Showers were hot. Bathrooms were ok. Very quiet even though it was close to highway.
I camped here during the summer season of 2023. When I pulled into the campground it was just me and the camp hosts. They gave me the pick of what site I wanted. I swooped on one next to the river. The campground was beautiful and sites were good distances from each other. There are bathrooms and areas to top off your water. I choose this campground due to driving the 395 as my choice of route to explore. I would 100% recommend this campsite again.
We were surprised how quiet this state park was during our visit. Very clean and beautiful green grass through campground. Enjoyed the river trail along the John Day river. Perfect to cool off in during the hot summer months. Mosquitoes definitely come out at night and we were tent camping. A little highway noise at night but not bad.
What a beautiful site for camping. Saw several deer there when we arrived. It was very peaceful.
This place is beautiful! Everything perfectly cared for@
Dry camping with a put toilet, very clean. The camping sites were pretty level. Site 11 we feel was the best. Baker city was just about 20 minutes away along with the old gold mining town of Sumpter about 10 minutes away
We stayed one night as a stopover on a walkabout. The hosts were friendly and helpful. Clean restrooms and showers. 2/3 of the sites have a view of the lake. The wind often comes up in the afternoon and is there until after sunset, but the fishing looked great. Another camper offered us freshly caught trout as they had too much for their group. Lots of grass.
Just arrived today. I’ll update after our full stay. Come here to explore Sumpter and the mines. Dispersed but tables and fire rings. Some pull throughs. No hookups or trash service. Beautiful setting. 3 bars AT&T.
Sites are not level. Large rigs will be fine, ours is 30’ TT
After stay review. Had a great time. Cranes were hanging at the lake, two Bald Eagles were close by. Great location with a lot to explore.
Beautiful and peaceful stay. We were able to snag a first come first serve campsite just before the 4th. Cons: Most sites are simple turnouts, more suitable for tents. No ATV use so our mobility was limited. There are a few sites to back a camper off the road. Pro: nice boat dock and access for swimming.
We were looking for a campground to stay at on our way from eastern Oregon to the John Day wilderness area. Bates State Park was a perfect overnight spot, just far enough off Hwy 26 to be quiet and exceptionally clean and well maintained. There are no hookups, and it will be a few years before vegetation matures to offer more privacy between spaces, but the park was uncrowded and felt private nonetheless. There are very interesting signs telling about the logging history of the area as well as a playground and nature trails.
Nice sites with lots of separation and easy access to a trailhead. Multiple vault toilets available as well as water taps that I don’t think are potable but good enough to rinse dishes. We got caught in rain, sleet, snow, and graupel all in one day but that’s hardly the campground’s fault. If you can get up the sketchy and rough road, it’s a beautiful site.
Stayed for one night, most of the sites are far enough away that it didn’t feel crowded with three other parties there, but a couple of the sites are close enough to be good for a group. Our site had a slight slant so we needed a couple of leveling blocks. Clean toilet when we were there.
Olive Lake is a beautiful and quiet place to camp. There is a boat ramp and dock that are in good repair there. There are lakeside campsites. Some are reservable and others are first come first serve. There has been some thinning of the trees in the campground and the cleanup process has not been completed, yet it is still a great place to stay. There is a trail that goes around the lake that they say is only 2 miles long. It was a wonderful hike but according to our sports watches and GPS was almost 3 miles. So be prepared.
This quite little gem of a camp ground is our favorite spot to get away for a weekend or longer. Beautiful old growth trees, with a stream running through it. Close to Sumpter if you forgot something, or there is always some street activity or flea market happening.
Sweet little spot for smaller vehicles. We walked along the path to check it out before attempting it in our 26ft class c and I’m glad we did. The path was too narrow for us, and the road rose up a bit too high along the middle. A smaller vehicle shouldn’t have a problem. There’s a nice little clearing at the end of the path right along the little creek. Very peaceful and green when we came here in July.
At the main road there IS a spot large enough for our RV (that’s where we parked when we got out to walk to the creek spot) but we decided not to stay the night there. It wasn’t flat at all and a little too noisy and close to the main road. But it would definitely do in a pinch- very easy to get to- just off the main road to the right. There’s a fire pit marking the spot.
Zero cell reception in this entire area for verizon and ATT. No amenities here, this is a FS dispersed camping spot so please keep the area clean and pack out your waste.
Free camping in sno park parking lot in Malheur National Forest between May and October. Huge parking lot, accessible for any giant RV. Lot is flat enough, not totally flat but good enough for the night.
There’s an accessible pit toilet here but it was locked when we stayed here in July.
We had the whole lot to ourselves for the night. Very peaceful and quiet, very minimal traffic and road noise. Nice forest roads to walk along. Lots of green grass and trees when we came in July.
No amenities here at all, please pack out your waste and keep it clean. Zero cell reception here in this entire area with Verizon or ATT but the lot is in a big clearing with no trees around so I’m guessing starlink would work well here.
Off the beaten path, but we'll worth it! Dropped 20 degrees from the hot valley floor. Around 8 spots, first come, but a few other spots on the way up, for dispersed. Right along strawberry creek, beautiful, quiet. Trails to explore, wildlife to see.
This is a very nice Forest Service campground along the Middle Fork of the John Day River. The sites are nicely laid out and are a fair distance from each other. Although the campground is adjacent to a paved road, there was little traffic during our two night stay.
The river is a little difficult to access because of shrubs and small trees, but this is actually good news because so much of the Middle Fork has been damaged by mining and cattle. Continuing west on the road brings you to several very interesting locations with information boards that describe the reclamation efforts of the Warm Spring Tribe on 2,000 acres of land through which the river runs.
Hosts were very friendly and the location was peaceful. Sunsets were beautiful but we stayed during a very hot week and the lack of shade made it very difficult to stay cool.
Trees were very small and didn’t provide much shade. In about 5 years it may be a better place to camp.
Lake water was extremely filthy. Kids swam and had a good time in the cool water but the water was gross.
We stopped here after a long drive from Stanley, ID enroute to Reno. Found the campground on The Dyrt app. Only 3 campers were at the site. Very quiet. Our dog swam in the river. The toilet was clean & didn’t smell. Very shaded sites.
Great experience. Host very nice. Bathrooms clean. Still a lot of firewood available. We biked around the lake (little less than 4 miles), would be a good easy hike with kids.
McCully Forks Campground in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is an absolute haven for those seeking to reconnect with nature. The serenity and beauty of the surroundings are unparalleled, providing a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. The lack of cell service was surprisingly refreshing, encouraging genuine relaxation and a chance to truly unplug. From the rustling of the trees to the clear, starlit sky, every detail felt like an invitation to breathe deeper and appreciate the simple joys. If you're looking for a tranquil retreat and a profound sense of peace, McCully Forks Campground delivers in every aspect. Can't wait to return!
We stayed at The Gold Rush RV park in Sumpter, OR for one week. We absolutely loved our stay. The park was clean, and the restrooms/laundry room was spotless. We really enjoyed exploring the area in the evenings. We were at site 15 on the top of the hill that overlooked the road and the mountains. In our opinion, it is the best spot in the park. The couple that owns the park lives on-site and takes very good care of their park. We will be back for sure. If you need anything, be sure to let them know, they are very helpful.
The park is operated by a friendly and helpful couple. The ground and facilities are clean and well supplied. Dayville is a delightful small town with chickens and goats and horses as neighbors to the RV park. The proprietors clearly value hospitality and are very welcoming.
Camping near John Day, Oregon, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near John Day, Oregon, offers a unique blend of outdoor fun and relaxation. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near John Day, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near John Day, OR is Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site with a 4.3-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near John Day, OR?
TheDyrt.com has all 56 dog-friendly camping locations near John Day, OR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
