Steve Roelof Website
Stewardship Pronghorn Fence
Bitteroot
Bitteroot blooms on north-facing cliffs in western North America.
The Paiute name for bitteroot is kangedya. Traditional Native American uses of the plant included eating the roots, mixed with berries and meat, and using the roots to treat sore throats.
Tibetan Monks Visit Sutton Mountain
Nestled along the banks of the John Day River between Wasco and Condon is Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Oregon’s newest state park. Cottonwood Canyon encompasses 8,000 acres of rugged terrain with canyon walls reaching 1,250 feet deep and rolling hills home to all kinds of desert wildlife, including bighorn sheep and elk. Located on the northern end of the river where the flow is slower, the swimming opportunities here are top-notch, not to mention the boat launch that makes it a breeze to take a kayak, canoe or raft out to explore.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park website
Deep in the heart of John Day country is Priest Hole Recreation Site, a local favorite for swimming and fishing. The water here is the perfect temperature for swimming and beautifully crystal clear. This spot is right in the middle of the John Day Wild and Scenic River, which was designated for its incredible scenery, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and geological features. Camping at Priest Hole is free, and you can even set up your tent on a gravel bar where you can fall asleep to the sound of the river.
Priest Hole Recreation Site information
Conveniently located between Highway 26 and Painted Hills National Monument off of Bridge Creek/Burnt Ranch Road is the Bridge Creek campground. This is an excellent place to stop on your way to or from Painted Hills, one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders. Whether you’re spending the night or not, this campground provides access to a lovely swimming spot on Bridge Creek, a 28-mile long tributary of the John Day.
The Dyrt review of Bridge Creek/Burnt Ranch Campground
Like the Colorado and the Rio Grande, the John Day River also has its own “Big Bend.” The Big Bend Recreation Site is found a few miles north of the small town of Kimberly, at - you guessed it - a big bend of the John Day River. Given the large turn that the river takes here, the waters flow slowly enough to create a fantastic swimming hole. For those who’d like to stick around for more than a day, five campsites on the northern bank of the river offer incredible views of the John Day and surrounding desert landscape.
Outdoor Project review of Big Bend Recreation Site
With yet another hot and dry summer upon us, there’s no question that addressing, mitigating and reversing the effects of climate change and drought needs to be a top priority for everyone.
ONDA contributes to mitigating the effects of climate change in the high desert in two key ways: through our riparian restoration program and by advocating for protection for critical desert rivers and streams.
ONDA restores riparian areas – the green habitat zones along the banks of rivers and streams – by planting native, climate resilient tree species that provide much-needed shade for desert fish and wildlife that depend on cold-water habitat. We are also working to Congressionally protect these waterways, joining Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley to advocate for Wild and Scenic designation for more than 1,000 miles of desert rivers and streams included in their River Democracy Act. This landmark legislation would give these desert rivers and streams the protection they need to keep flowing and serving as lifelines in the high desert, carrying cold snowmelt down from places such as Steens Mountain and the Trout Creek and Pueblo Mountains to desert habitats below.
The River Democracy Act is vital legislation that would protect thousands of miles of rivers, streams and creeks throughout Oregon as Wild and Scenic Rivers. This bill includes hundreds of […]
Read MoreOregon Natural Desert Association’s independent stewardship projects offers volunteers a self-directed option for promoting a healthy high desert in addition to our structured option of guided stewardship trips. How It […]
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Author: Joanna Zhang | Published: July 19, 2021 | Updated: July 20, 2022 | Categories: Where-to Four fantastic swimming holes on the John Day River You might not think of […]
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Escape the Black Friday crowds and #OptOutside to a wild river near you! Sen. Ron Wyden is asking Oregonians to help him develop legislation to protect Oregon’s most special rivers, […]
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