John Day Wild and Scenic River
The John Day River offers a range of recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, and camping.
See our new John Day River Know Before You Go video!
Map of John Day River Segments and Segment Descriptions
New Boater Guides are available. Call 541-416-6700.
An online permit is required year-round
for both day and overnight boating trips within the Wild and Scenic section of the John Day River (Service Creek to Tumwater Falls) and is only available here on Recreation.gov. One permit covers your entire group for the length of the trip and is based on your launch segment.
LOW SEASON
Choose Low Season in the drop down menu regardless of river segment
Choose Fall Low Season for Sep 1 - Nov 30 launches except for Segment 1A or 1B
HIGH SEASON
Launch Segments:
Segment 3A or 3B (May 1 - July 15): Entering the Wild and Scenic section from upstream of Service Creek, or launching at Service Creek,Twickenham, Priest Hole, or Lower Burnt Ranch. This permit does not allow parties to takeout downstream of Clarno.
Segment 1A or 1B (May 1 -July 15): Launching at Cottonwood Bridge (Burres), Starvation Lane, Rock Creek, or McDonald's Ferry
Fall High Season Segment 1A or 1B (Sep 1 - Nov 30): Launching at Cottonwood Bridge (Burres), Starvation Lane, Rock Creek, or McDonald's Ferry
*Trip leaders are required to register at the boat launch. Print the permit and leave the bottom registration section of the permit in the box at the launch kiosk, or hand it to agency personnel if present. Carry the rest of the permit on the river in an accessible location.
Whitewater boating and outdoors skills are necessary for all sections of river. The John Day is a free-flowing desert river; levels can change quickly and vary from under 100cfs to over 20,000cfs! May through late June typically have the best flows. Check flow and weather forecasts. Tie up boats and strap down anything that can blow away!
All boat ramps are primitive and can be steep and/or difficult to catch depending on flows. Do not commit your vehicle to a ramp you cannot drive off of. Take outs are not signed from the river. The river flows through a mix of public and private lands. It is your responsibility to research your trip, carry a map, and know where you are. See the See the lists of guides and outfitters if a guided trip is desired.
A permit system is in place to help protect the John Day River, which is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River and an Oregon State Scenic Waterway . By working together as a community and by practicing Leave No Trace techniques, we can help preserve this precious resource for tomorrow and for future generations.
For further information, please visit our John Day River website .
Water Level: Water flow is often too low to boat outside of the spring season. See our waterflow tab for links to gauges, forecasted flows, and recommended flow per craft.
New Boater Guides are available by visiting or calling the Prineville District Office (541) 416-6700. They are sometimes available online here .
This permit is for a one-day boating trip. For Overnight Permits click here.
Permits are unlimited except during High Season which is from:
Daily Rolling Release: High Season permits are first-come first-served and become available on Recreation.gov at 7am Pacific Time 4 months and 1 month in advance of a given launch date. See the High Season Release Schedule .
You cannot print your permit more than 14 days before your trip. Prior to printing your permit, you can cancel directly on Recreation.gov. Once printed, you must email or call the BLM to cancel. Cancelled permits return to the Recreation.gov availability calendar. See Fees/Cancellations.
Trip leaders or alternates must be present the entire trip. Add alternate trip leaders when first obtaining your permit, they cannot be added later. You can be a trip leader or alternate on 1 overnight permit at a time.
When reserving a permit on this river, I understand that:
Annual Fire Closure
Fires in Firepans Only
Portable Toilet Requirement
Pack It In, Pack It Out
Motorized Boating
Reservation Fee:
A $6.00 non-refundable reservation fee is required for each permit issued. Only one permit is needed per boating group. Each member of a group must remain with the trip leader while on the river.
Recreation Fee:
A non-refundable recreation fee is due when a reservation is made for trips entering the Wild and Scenic section during the High Season (between Service Creek and Tumwater Falls from May 1- July 15, and between Cottonwood Canyon and Tumwater Falls from Sep 1- Nov 30).
The recreation fee is $20 per overnight trip per group, or $10 per one-day trip per group. All recreation fees are used directly on the river to help keep launch sites and river campsites clean.
Change Policy:
Cancellation Policy:
3050 NE 3rd Street Prineville OR 97754
Email: blm_john_day_river@blm.gov, Phone: (541) 416-6700