North Fork John Day Campground
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.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Oregon · reservable in Oregon · pets allowed in Oregon · group sites in Oregon
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 14 |
| Tent-only | 5 |
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
20 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 2 | Standard | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 3 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 4 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 5 | Standard | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 6 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 8 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 5, 6, 8, 9 are listed accessible |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Late May |
| Forest | Umatilla National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations available on recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. |
| Fees | Single site: $8/vehicle/night (extra $5 fee per vehicle exceeding the two-vehicle-per-site allowance.). Group site: Site 14 is $25/night (no extra vehicle charge). An $8 reservation fee will be adding on site reserved through recreation.gov |
| Rules | Wilderness restrictions apply within north Fork John Day Wilderness. |
Getting there
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.
| Nearest town | Ukiah, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44.9145° N, 118.4028° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireMccully
8 mi from the campground · 13,604 acres · 91% contained
- PrescribedBirdtrack 621 Broadcast Rx
29 mi from the campground · 377 acres
- PrescribedBird Track 610/607A Rx
31 mi from the campground · 141 acres
- PrescribedGreenwood Rx
34 mi from the campground · 38 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
Best camp spot on the John Day River!
Worth a stop
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.
- 2 miCrane Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 4.1 miBaldy Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miNorth Fork John Day Trailhead ↗Umatilla National Forest · Season Late May
- 2 miCrane Creek Trailhead ↗Umatilla National Forest · Season Late May
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside North Fork John Day Wilderness.
- inNorth Fork John Day Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 120,694 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
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.
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.
Guidebooks for Oregon
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at North Fork John Day Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at North Fork John Day Campground?
Single site: $8/vehicle/night (extra $5 fee per vehicle exceeding the two-vehicle-per-site allowance.). Group site: Site 14 is $25/night (no extra vehicle charge). An $8 reservation fee will be adding on site reserved through recreation.gov
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at North Fork John Day Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is North Fork John Day Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Late May.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does North Fork John Day Campground have?
20 sites, including 14 standard sites without power, 5 tent-only sites, and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to North Fork John Day Campground?
North Fork John Day Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at North Fork John Day Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at North Fork John Day Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at North Fork John Day Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Wilderness restrictions apply within north Fork John Day Wilderness.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at North Fork John Day Campground?
Sites 5, 6, 8, and 9 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at North Fork John Day Campground?
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. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to North Fork John Day Campground?
Ukiah, Oregon. The historic mining town of Granite is 9 miles south.
Source: Getting there
What if North Fork John Day Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Grande Ronde Lake Campground (8.9 mi, first-come), Anthony Lake (8.9 mi), and Mud Lake Campground (9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby