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.
