Trip Description

With relatively few rapids, stunning scenery and great fishing for small mouth bass, the John Day River is at once a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and yet seldom traveled. As a free-flowing river, the John Day River has a relatively short rafting season. In June, sufficient water usually combines with sunny weather to create the perfect John Day river trip for the person who appreciates desert camping and spectacular scenery. The John Day river is less visited today than during the 1860's and 1870's when the Dalles Canyon Road was filled with mining, stagecoach and military traffic.Today, scattered ranches and the occasional float party do little to break the sense of isolation or interrupt the quiet desert scenery.

Special Features:
The John Day River offers opportunities for exploring old homesteads and examining mysterious Indian rock art. Excellent bass fishing and ample opportunities for hiking also exist in a landscape that is still sparsely populated. With very few rapids, the John Day River is the perfect river for those who believe that whitewater gets in the way of a perfectly good river trip.