South Fork John Day River Back Country Byway

Overview

South Fork John Day River Back Country Byway is managed by Bureau of Land Management and is located near Dayville, Oregon. This gravelled Back Country Byway parallels the Wild and Scenic South Fork John Day River through its incised canyon for a distance of 50 miles from its northern terminus at Dayville to the northern border of Malheur National Forest to the south. This drive takes visitors through deep canyons of Columbia River Basalts, through stands of old growth ponderosa pines, Douglas and white fir, and willows that line the road. The river itself contains beautiful rapids and the Izee Falls, which drops 56 feet vertically.

Along the way, you’ll pass the Aldrich Mountain Wilderness Study Area as well as the Black Canyon Wilderness, two areas with ample opportunities for hiking, hunting and wildlife viewing. The Murderer's Creek area has plentiful wildlife, including deer, elk, black bear, coyotes, bighorn sheep, and upland birds.

Know Before You Go:

• This high-standard gravel road is suitable for most passenger vehicles; however, know that some stretches of this road are single-vehicle width.
• No developed recreation facilities exist along this route but dispersed camping opportunities abound. Nine miles south of Dayville, the Black Canyon East Trailhead offers hiking access into the Black Canyon Wilderness.
• Cell phone service is not available along this back country byway.

Point of Interest: