John Day River - Overnight Permits
John Day Wild and Scenic River
The John Day River offers a range of recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, and camping.
See our new John Day River Know Before You Go Video!
An online permit is required year-round for both day and overnight boating trips from Service Creek to Tumwater Falls and is only available here on Recreation.gov. See our Map of John Day River Segments and click here to learn which permit you need. The links have a description of the launch, take-outs, and dates each permit pertains to. One permit covers an entire group for the length of the trip and is based on launch date and launch segment. Launch date or segment cannot be changed. You do not need more than one permit for your entire trip.
Purchase a brand new boater guide by calling 541-416-6700 or they are sometimes available here.
Parties are required to register at the boat launch. Print the permit and leave the bottom registration section of the permit in the box at the launch kiosk on your launch day. Carry the rest of the permit on the river in an accessible location.
Whitewater boating skills are necessary to navigate all sections of the river. May through late June often have the best water. The John Day is a free-flowing desert river; levels can change quickly! Check flow and weather forecasts. Tie up boats and strap down anything that can blow away! All boat ramps are primitive, and the river flows through a mix of public and private lands. Make sure to carry a map and do some research before the trip.
Visit our BLM John Day River website for more information. See the know before you go section for recommended water levels per craft, short term, and long term flow forecasts along with safety tips and more! Click here for information on launch sites and BLM campgrounds in the area.
Waterway Access Permit Exemption: On the John Day Wild and Scenic River an Oregon Waterway Access Permit is not required during High Season from Service Creek to Tumwater Falls but is required during Low Season. Please visit the Oregon State Marine Board website for further information. Help lessen the spread of invasive species by limiting travel through infested areas and by cleaning and drying watercraft .
Notifications and Alerts
Priest Hole will be closed to all access from October 1, 2024 through May 15, 2025 for campground construction. Twickenham and Burnt Ranch launches will remain open.
The road to Thirtymile launch is closed from December 1st - April 15th annually. When open, 4x4 is recommended. The road is bumpy, narrow, and has minimal pullouts with vegetation on the shoulders. Have a plan for if you meet an oncoming vehicle. If you have a trailer it should be in excellent condition with a spare. Expect to travel at speeds of 4 mph if towing a trailer.
Water Level: Water flow is often too low to boat outside of the spring season. See our waterflow tab for links to gauges, forecasted flows, and recommended flow per craft.
New Boater Guides are available by visiting or calling the Prineville District Office (541) 416-6700. They are sometimes available online here .
It is mandatory to register your trip at the launch. Please print your permit, tear off the boater registration at the bottom, and deposit it in the registration box at the launch site to prevent "no show" penalties.
Mulberry Camps: Please be aware that the two campsites on the river right below Clarno rapids are on private land and are signed no tresspassing. Please respect private property.
Permit & Season Information
This permit is for an Overnight boating trip. For Day Use permits click here.
Permits are unlimited except during High Season which is from:
- Service Creek to Tumwater Falls (May 1-July 15)
- Cottonwood Bridge (Burres) to Tumwater Falls (September 1-November 30)
Daily Rolling Release: High Season permits are first-come first-served and become available on Recreation.gov at 7am Pacific Time 4 months and 1 month in advance of a given launch date. See the High Season Release Schedule .
You cannot print your permit more than 14 days before your trip. Prior to printing your permit, you can cancel directly on Recreation.gov. Once printed, you must email or call the BLM to cancel. Cancelled permits return to the Recreation.gov availability calendar. See Fees/Cancellations.
Trip leaders or alternates must be present the entire trip. Add alternate trip leaders when first obtaining your permit, they cannot be added later. You can be a trip leader or alternate on 1 overnight permit at a time.
Need to Know
When reserving a permit on this river, I understand that:
- The permit is valid only for the entry date and entry segment for which it is issued;
- After a reservation is made, the entry date, entry segment and trip leader may not be changed and alternate trip leaders may not be added;
- Permit fees are non-refundable;
- The maximum group size is 16 people and groups may not combine at any time if this number would be exceeded. In Segment 1A and 1B in the Fall (September 1-November 30), the group size is 4 people;
- I must print, sign, and carry my permit on the river, leaving the bottom boater registration portion in the box at the launch kiosk. Permits may be printed up to 14 days before the launch date on Recreation.gov;
- The Trip Leader or Alternate is required to be present on the entire trip and may be requested to show the permit and a photo ID during the trip;
- As Trip Leader, I am responsible for the actions of my group;
- As Trip Leader, I will be at least 13 years old before the launch date;
- I may hold a maximum of one overnight permit and three day-use permits at one time;
- My group must carry out our solid human waste in an approved portable toilet system ;
- No wood or charcoal fires are allowed from June 1-October 15. When allowed, fires must be contained in a metal firepan and all ashes carried out;
- This reservation/application is for a private (non-commercial) trip unless I am authorized to be a commercial outfitter on this river.
Annual Fire Closure (June 1 - Oct 15)
- The John Day River is closed to all campfires, charcoal fires and propane campfire devices from June 1-October 15 each year.
- Propane and white gas cooking stoves and shielded lanterns are permitted.
- Smoking is permitted only in a closed vehicle, while standing in the water, or while in a boat on the water.
- Using or possessing fireworks is prohibited.
- You do not need to carry a fire pan during annual fire closure.
Fires in Firepans Only
- When fires are allowed, ground fires and rock fire rings are not permitted. Watch for dry vegetation .
- Fires and ash must be completely contained in an elevated metal firepan with sides at least two inches high.
- Burn wood from home, charcoal, driftwood, or dead and down vegetation. Standing vegetation, either dead or alive, may not be cut or gathered.
- All campfire residue must be carried out of the canyon.
Portable Toilet Requirement
- On overnight and day trips, all boating groups are required to carry and use a water-tight, reusable toilet system large enough to service the entire party for the complete length of the trip.
- All buckets used to carry human waste are required to have a rubber gasket in the lid.
- Dump stations are not available at takeouts. See the list of rv dumpstations .
- Plastic bags are not allowed, except human waste bags specifically designed for this purpose.
- Dispose of used human waste bags in a garbage dumpster. Disposing of bags in a vault toilet is strictly prohibited.
Pack It In, Pack It Out
- Carry out all garbage, including cigarette butts, toilet paper and organics.
- Pack out food scraps to keep critters to a minimum.
- Do not bury trash or toilet paper; animals may dig it up
- Strain all dish/wastewater through a screen to remove food particles, and pack them out.
- Scatter wastewater over a wide area, away from campsites, at least 200 ft. from the river.
- Soap should be used sparingly, as even biodegradable varieties are slow to break down.
- At flows above 500 cfs, urinate in the river.
- At flows below 500 cfs, urinate at least 200 ft. away from camp.
- Ensure all boats are clean, drained and dry prior to launch.
Motorized Boating
- Clarno to Cottonwood is closed to motorized boats year-round. From Cottonwood Bridge downstream, the river is closed to motorized boats from May 1 - September 30. Between Service Creek and Clarno, the river is restricted to electric motors from May 1 - September 30.
- There are no motorized boat restrictions upstream of Service Creek.
- The river is closed to personal watercraft (jet skis) year-round upstream of Tumwater Falls.
- See Motorized Boating for more information.
Fee Policy
Reservation Fee:
A $6.00 non-refundable reservation fee is required for each permit issued. Only one permit is needed per boating group. Each member of a group must remain with the trip leader while on the river.
Recreation Fee:
A non-refundable recreation fee is due when a reservation is made for trips entering the Wild and Scenic section during the High Season (between Service Creek and Tumwater Falls from May 1- July 15, and between Cottonwood Canyon and Tumwater Falls from Sep 1- Nov 30).
The recreation fee is $20 per overnight trip per group, or $10 per one-day trip per group. All recreation fees are used directly on the river to help keep launch sites and river campsites clean.
Cancellation Policy
Change Policy:
- A permit authorizes the trip leader to enter a specific river segment on a specific date. Once reserved, the entry date, entry segment, trip leader and alternates may not be changed.
- Before printing your permit or at the launch point, you may change your:
- group size
- # of boats
- take-out & date
- Launch point if within segment 3B
- The trip leader is required to tear off the bottom of the printed permit and deposit it in the box at the launch kiosk. Mark allowed changes.
Cancellation Policy:
- Failure to cancel your permit or to register your party at the launch kiosk will trigger a “No Show” status.
- See no show policies.
- If you cannot make a trip, you must cancel your permit on Recreation.gov. Cancel ASAP to allow other boaters to use your space. Follow instructions under your existing reservations.
- If the permit is already printed, you must email or call the BLM (blm_John_day_river@blm.gov, 541-416-6700) to cancel.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
Prineville District Office 3050 NE 3rd Street Prineville OR 97754
Phone Number
Email: blm_john_day_river@blm.gov, Phone: (541) 416-6700
