BLM John Day River - Priest Hole
Thomas B.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Apr. 13, 2021

Where the river meets the hills

This is a string of campsites along a beautiful stretch of the John Day River. Several can accommodate large vehicles/trailers/RVs. There are also plenty of places for tents. There are fire rings in many of them, but no picnic tables. There is one vault toilet that was actually relatively clean. The main limitation to larger vehicles are the access roads, of which there are two. If you follow signs for Priest Hole while heading north you will go down a steep, rutted and narrow gravel road. We came down it but were worried about getting back up. Then we discovered another road that goes west from the campground. It is a less rutted and slightly less steep and much preferable. In would highly recommend this route. We were there for a few nights, and had no trouble finding a site arriving on a Thursday in early Spring. It did seem to get busier on Saturday. The stars are incredibly bright at night. The surrounding cliffs are beautiful. We watched a huge bald eagle perching on a rock eating an animal it had just caught. There is no Verizon cell service at the campground but we did find a few little slices when we walked up the southern access road.

SiteOn the river near the vault toilet
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
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  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021
  • Review photo of BLM John Day River - Priest Hole by Thomas B., April 13, 2021