North Fork John Day Campground (OR)
Umatilla National Forest
This campground sits along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River at the junction of the Blue Mountain and Elkhorn Scenic Byways. It features 20 campsites, 3 accessible toilet facilities, and stock handling facilities. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home.
This campground serves as the eastern access point to the North Fork John Day Wilderness via North Fork John Day River Trail #3022. The area offers hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, berry and mushroom picking, sight-seeing, and photography opportunities. In spring and fall you can see the salmon spawning. Special state fishing regulations apply.
If you like to drive, you can pick up the Ukiah-Granite Roadside Geology auto tour brochure from the camp host or the Ranger District.
This campground features 14 tent/rv campsites, 5 tent only campsites, 1 group campsite, 3 accessible vault toilets, and stock handling/holding facilities (stock is only permitted in the north half of the campground from sites 10-16). There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home.
Need to Know
- Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
- While recreational stock is accommodated at this campground, stock must stay in the northern part of the campground from sites 10-16.
- No discharging firearms, including bow/arrows, or possession of fireworks allowed.
- Check-out time is 12:00pm. Check-in time is 2:00pm.
- Some campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Be bear aware; keep all food out of reach or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from the area after eating.
- Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
- Camping or otherwise occupying a single location (including leaving camping equipment and/or related supplies) for a period longer than 14 consecutive calendar days is prohibited. ‘Location’ means the occupied area, the occupied campsite, and the National Forest System lands in the immediate vicinity thereof.
- Additional vehicles will require an additional fee paid on site.
- Trash service is not available at this site. Please pack home your trash.
Natural Features
The campground is set amidst a lodgepole pine forest, with over half of the sites in the shade. The perennial North Fork John Day River runs adjacent to the campground where you can see spawning steelhead and chinook salmon in spring and fall. In the surrounding forests live coyotes, deer, elk, wolves, bear, and cougar, plus a myriad of small animal species.
Nearby Attractions
The historic mining town of Granite is 9 miles south. State of Oregon Parks has a restored dredge that can be toured in the town of Sumpter, 22 miles south. Olive Lake is 21 miles south and west of the campground, and offers fishing , crawfishing, swimming, motorized boating (no wake allowed) and nearby trails for hiking/horseback riding (horses are not allowed in the campground). The lake-turned-reservior was constructed as part of a hydroelectric system to support gold mining activities in the northern Blue Mountain Region in the early 1900's. Historically, water from the lake flowed through a wooden pipeline for 9 miles to the Fremont Powerhouse, where it was used to produce electricity for mines and towns. The Powerhouse is approximately 14 miles south and west of the NFJD Campground on the same road that accesses Olive Lake.
Recreation
This campground serves as the eastern portal into the North Fork John Day Wilderness and offers hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, sight-seeing, and photography. Berries and mushrooms can be found in season. If you like to drive, you can pick up the Ukiah-Granite Roadside Geology auto tour brochure from the camp host or the Ranger District office. if you are interested in history, there are numerous remnants of mining left from the turn of the century, Remember, historic objects, even if they look like trash, are protected by law and may not be removed.
Contact Information
Mailing
P.O. Box 158 Ukiah OR 97880
Physical
401 W. Main St. Ukiah OR 97880
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: (541) 427-3231
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Ukiah, OR head southeast on Forest Service Road 52 approximately 40 miles to the North Fork John Day Campground and trailhead. Parking for the trailhead is in the north end of the campground.
Besides the 20-site campground, there is a large trailhead parking area, toilet, unloading ramp, and facilities for stock animals (corrals, mangers, hitching posts). This site is directly adjacent to the Wild & Scenic North Fork John Day River and the Blue Mountain National Scenic Byway.
Available Campsites
- Site 9A, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 8, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 15, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 3, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 6, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 5, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 7, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 1B, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 9, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site AB, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 12, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 1A, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 1, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 4, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 14, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 10, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 16, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 11, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 13, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 2, Loop North Fork John Day, Type Standard Nonelectric
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