North Fork John Day River
Encyclopedia
The North Fork John Day River is a 107 miles (172.2 km) tributary of the John Day River
in the U.S. state of Oregon
. It begins in Grant County
about 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of Baker City
near the crest of the Blue Mountains
. It flows generally west to the community of Dale on U.S. Route 395
then southwest through the city of Monument
to the unincorporated community of Kimberly
, where it meets the main stem of the John Day River.
The upper reaches of the river flow through the North Fork John Day Wilderness
in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
and the Umatilla National Forest
. From its headwaters to its confluence with Camas Creek, the river is part of the National Wild and Scenic River
system. The upper 27.8 miles (44.7 km) is classified wild, the next 10.5 miles (16.9 km) scenic, and the next 15.8 miles (25.4 km) recreational for a total of 54.1 miles (87.1 km).
The North Fork John Day River is one of the most important in northeast Oregon for anadromous
fish. Wildlife found near the river includes mule deer
, elk
, and black bear
s, Peregrine Falcon
s, and Bald Eagle
s. Recreational uses include hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, snowmobiling
, skiing, camping, and whitewater rafting
.
John Day River
The John Day River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northeastern Oregon in the United States. Undammed along its entire length, the river is the third longest free-flowing river in the conterminous United States. There is extensive use of its waters for irrigation. Its...
in the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It begins in Grant County
Grant County, Oregon
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. In 2010, its population was 7,445. It is named for President Ulysses S. Grant, who served as an army officer in the Oregon Territory, and at the time of the county's creation...
about 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of Baker City
Baker City, Oregon
Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
near the crest of the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains (Oregon)
The Blue Mountains are a mountain range in the western United States, located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into southeastern Washington...
. It flows generally west to the community of Dale on U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395 is a U.S. Route in the western United States. The southern terminus of the route is in the Mojave Desert at Interstate 15 near Hesperia. The northern terminus is at the Canadian border near Laurier, where the road becomes Highway 395 upon entering British Columbia. At one time, the...
then southwest through the city of Monument
Monument, Oregon
Monument is a city in Grant County, Oregon, United States. The population was 151 at the 2000 census. It is located near the confluence of the North Fork and Middle Fork of the John Day River.-Geography:...
to the unincorporated community of Kimberly
Kimberly, Oregon
Kimberly is an unincorporated community in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the intersection of Oregon Route 19 and Oregon Route 402 and the confluence of the John Day and the North Fork John Day rivers....
, where it meets the main stem of the John Day River.
The upper reaches of the river flow through the North Fork John Day Wilderness
North Fork John Day Wilderness
The North Fork John Day Wilderness is a wilderness area within the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon....
in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
The Wallowa–Whitman National Forest is a United States National Forest in Oregon. Formed by a merger of the formerly separate Wallowa and Whitman national forests, it is located in the northeastern corner of the state, in Wallowa, Baker, Union, Grant, and Umatilla counties in Oregon, and includes...
and the Umatilla National Forest
Umatilla National Forest
The Umatilla National Forest, in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington, covers an area of 1.4 million acres . In descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Umatilla, Grant, Columbia, Morrow, Wallowa, Union, Garfield, Asotin, Wheeler, and Walla Walla...
. From its headwaters to its confluence with Camas Creek, the river is part of the National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission...
system. The upper 27.8 miles (44.7 km) is classified wild, the next 10.5 miles (16.9 km) scenic, and the next 15.8 miles (25.4 km) recreational for a total of 54.1 miles (87.1 km).
The North Fork John Day River is one of the most important in northeast Oregon for anadromous
Fish migration
Many types of fish migrate on a regular basis, on time scales ranging from daily to annually or longer, and over distances ranging from a few metres to thousands of kilometres...
fish. Wildlife found near the river includes mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, and black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
s, Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
s, and Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s. Recreational uses include hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, snowmobiling
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
, skiing, camping, and whitewater rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
.
See also
- List of rivers of Oregon
- List of longest streams of Oregon
- List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers