North Fork John Day Campground (Or)
Umatilla National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Ukiah, OR, OR
Price: From $8 per night
Price range: $8–$25 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (20 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/north-fork-john-day-campground-or to be notified when sites open up.
Located along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River at the junction of two scenic byways, this campground serves as the eastern access point to the North Fork John Day Wilderness with excellent backpacking and day hiking opportunities. Campers praise it as quiet with plenty of open space and picnic tables, earning a 4.8/5 rating.
Wildlife alert: Bald Eagles, Western Red-tailed Hawks, Ruffed Grouse, Snowshoe Hares, and Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels documented in the area.
Insider tips for North Fork John Day Campground (Or): Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand. Pack out all garbage; there is no garbage service. Trailhead parking is located at the north end of the campground for access to North Fork John Day River Trail #3022.
Skip North Fork John Day Campground (Or) if: You need full RV hookups; only electric hookups available and campground is suitable for self-contained RVs only.. You require potable water at the site; verify water availability before arrival.. You need year-round camping; seasonal operations May through October only..
Best time to visit North Fork John Day Campground (Or): May-October — Campground operates seasonally during this period only..
Nearby campgrounds: Peavy Cabin (North Powder, OR), Anthony Lake (North Powder, OR), Caretakers Cabin (UKIAH, OR), Olive Lake Campground (Or) (Ukiah, OR).
Cell Phone Coverage at North Fork John Day Campground (Or)
Cell signal at North Fork John Day Campground (Or) (Ukiah, OR): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand.
Pack out all garbage; there is no garbage service.
Trailhead parking is located at the north end of the campground for access to North Fork John Day River Trail #3022.
Campground operates seasonally during this period only.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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. 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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Umatilla National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Umatilla National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does North Fork John Day Campground (Or) cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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