John Day River Boater’s Guide available for 2024 river season

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — To create a better recreation experience, Bureau of Land Management officials at the Prineville District have released a new edition of the John Day River Boater’s Guide. The release comes just in time for 2024’s river season.

“We created every page of this guide to empower visitors to be able to see the beauty of the river, mile by mile and to protect the natural beauty and resources along the John Day,” said Prineville District Manager Amanda Roberts. “Overnight permits on the John Day are popular and limited, and we want to prepare visitors who raft the river to have an excellent experience!”

The 67-paged, spiral-bound, waterproof book is full of information about the 174 miles of the John Day River—from Kimberly to Tumwater Falls—making it a perfect summer read as you float on. It also includes safety tips, river etiquette, and vibrant topographical maps that identify land ownership and potential boat-in camping areas along the river. 

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, the Bureau of Land Management, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the John Day Coalition of Counties, and a group of private and commercial John Day River boaters collaborated to create the guide and enrich everyone’s experience of the John Day River and surrounding areas. 

A waterproof hardcopy of the John Day River Boater’s Guide can be purchased for $14 at the Prineville District Office in Prineville. You may also call to order a copy for shipping. The fees collected stay within the John Day River recreation area to support its care and management for future generations.

For more information about the guide, contact Monica Morin, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at mmorin@blm.gov.

For more information on the John Day River and to get your boater's permit, visit Recreation.gov.

BLM Central Oregon Field Office
3050 NE 3rd Street
Prineville, OR 97754
541-416-6700