North Fork John Day Campground
Open for the 2026 season. The campground is maintained from Memorial Day through mid-November, with fees charged through November 15. Road conditions may affect access earlier in spring or later in fall. Reservations available through Recreation.gov; some sites are first-come, first-served.
Air Quality Alert issued August 10 at 9:49AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until noon PDT Wednesday. Check with your local health or air agency for current restrictions on woodstove use. There are often exceptions for those who use wood exclusively to heat their homes and those with limited income. People can take the following precautions to protect their health: * Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air quality. * Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions. * People with heart or lung problems and young children are especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high. * Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in indoor heating ventilation, cooling, and air purification systems. * Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke if possible. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
Air Quality Alert issued August 5 at 2:33PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory until further notice. For the Smoke Air Quality Advisory, wildfires burning in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition. An Air Quality Advisory for elevated levels of ozone pollution, or smog, is in effect for Hermiston in Umatilla County. Ozone pollution is expected to reach levels that could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, pregnant people, older adults and people with heart or respiratory conditions. DEQ expected the Air Quality Advisory to last until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. For additional information...please visit the Web site at http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ
Alcohol Prohibitions
This Order describes acts that are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System administered by the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region in regards to alcoholic beverages.
About
North Fork John Day Campground sits at the junction of the Blue Mountain and Elkhorn Scenic Byways in Umatilla National Forest. The 20-site campground features 14 tent/RV sites, 5 tent-only sites, and one group site, all set within a lodgepole pine forest with over half the sites shaded. The perennial North Fork John Day River runs adjacent to the campground where spawning steelhead and chinook salmon can be observed in spring and fall. The campground serves as the eastern portal into the North Fork John Day Wilderness via Trail #3022. Stock animals are permitted in the north half of the campground (sites 10-16), with corrals, mangers, hitching posts, and an unloading ramp available. Hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, berry picking, and wildlife photography are popular activities. Special state fishing regulations apply. There is no potable water or garbage service, so campers must bring their own water and pack out all trash. The historic mining town of Granite is 9 miles south, and the restored dredge at Sumpter is 22 miles south. Olive Lake, offering fishing and swimming, is 21 miles southwest.
Directions
From Ukiah, OR head southeast on Forest Service Road 52 approximately 40 miles to the North Fork John Day Campground and trailhead. The campground is located at the junction of the Blue Mountain and Elkhorn Scenic Byways.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | — |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $8 - $25 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 40ft |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| r6_umatilla_public_inquiries@usda.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (541) 427-3231 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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