Running through the rugged, semi-arid Northeast corner of Oregon, the Wild & Scenic John Day River is the longest undammed river in the Pacific Northwest and the second longest in the nation, boasting over 250 miles of boatable water.
Winding through basalt canyons up to 2000’ deep and past colorful volcanic ash deposits, the John Day drains the Blue Mountains and Strawberry Range. Fossil beds and petroglyphs can be found amongst the cacti and scrub trees that line the river’s banks.
Two overnight stretches are quite popular on the John Day, both ideal for beginner level boater and others interested in a relaxing and enjoyable adventure. Multiple day trips along the John Day River give visitors time for enjoying the beautiful scenery, explore historic homesteads and disconnect from the outside world. The towns of Fossil and Clarno are located along the river.
Below are the Free Visitor Guides for John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. More Visitor Guides are available in South Dakota. Click here to view them all!
We offer a compact version of Go-Southdakota for mobile users, allowing you to access just the information you need on the road. Of course, you can still use the full version of Go-Southdakota on your mobile device just as you can on your desktop.