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Celilo Park Closure
Celilo Park will be without irrigation and potable water beginning September 9, 2024 as maintenance crews complete needed upgrades. During this time, the main restroom will be closed. Two vault toilets at the west end of the park will be available for use.  Work is anticipated to last approximately two weeks. Thank you for your patience as we complete this necessary work.

John Day Dam project-wide BURN BAN in effect 
Only commercial-grade, pressurized propane or fuel canister cooking stoves and firepits are allowed. Stoves must be attended to at ALL times. Wood and charcoal fires of ANY kind are prohibited. Fireworks, sparklers, and other pyrotechnics are ALWAYS prohibited on Corps property. 

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Contact us about John Day:

General: 541-739-1135

Email us about the John Day Project 

 

Contact the Lock Operators

Lock   Phone   VHF-FM
Bonneville   541-374-8323   WUJ 33
The Dalles   541-506-8212   WUJ 34
John Day   541-298-9712   WUJ 35
 

Building Strong® at John Day Lock and Dam

John Day Lock & Dam is located 216 miles upriver from the mouth of the Columbia River near the city of Rufus, Ore.

Dedicated in 1968, construction of John Day Lock & Dam was completed in 1971. The project, which consists of a navigation lock, spillway, powerhouse and fish passage facilities, is authorized for navigation and hydroelectric power generation. Various recreational facilities are provided along Lake Umatilla and the John Day River.

John Day hydropower

Powerhouse length 1975 ft 602 m
Generators/total output 16 2160 mw

John Day navigation

Lock length 650 ft 198 m
Lock width 86 ft 26 m
Max. lift 113 ft 34 m
Avg. transit time 30 min.  

Getting around

 

 

 

 

John Day recreation

CAMPGROUNDS

 

LePage Park (Sherman County, OR): Open from April 15- October 15.  Amenities include bathrooms with warm showers, docks, electricity and a dump station. Activities include boating, beach access and fishing. Le Page Park is also a good launch point for boat-in access to Philippi Park.  Reservations are available at Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.  Without reservations, availability is first-come, first-serve. Camping limited to 14 days within a 30-consecutive day period.  For park specific information, call 541-739-2713.     Fees:
  • Full hook up campsite (Riverfront): $35 per night
  • Full hook up campsite (non-Riverfront): $30 per night
  • Tent campsite: $15 per night
  • Gazebo tent campsite (T9 and T19): $20 per night
  • Overflow campsite: $15 per night
  • Day Use fee: $5 per car
  • Day Use fee: $2 per person for walk-ins/bike-ins
  • Boat Ramp fee: $5 per day
  • Dump Station fee: $5 per dump for non-campers

 

Philippi Park (OR): Philippi Park is accessible by boat only and is located approximately three miles up the John Day River from its confluence with the Columbia.  Parking and boat launch facilities are available at LePage Park. Open from May 15 to Sept. 15. Camping available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Camping limited to 7 days within a 30-consecutive day period.  Amenities include bathrooms with warm showers, beach access and boat docks. Popular activities include camping and fishing.
 

Paradise Park (Plymouth, WA): Paradise Park is located 2.9 miles west of Plymouth Rd. on Christie Rd. Site can accommodate up to 60 people or the local COVID-19 group size limit. Camping limited to 14 days within a 30-consecutive day period. Group site reserved through Plymouth Park on Recreation.gov or call 509-783-1270.  For park specific information, call 509-783-1270.

   Fees:
  • Group camping: $50 per night
 
Plymouth Park (WA): Campground is open April 15 to October 15. Plymouth Day Use Swim Beach open May 15 to September 15.  Reservations are available at Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.  Without reservations, availability is first-come, first-serve.  Camping limited to 14 days within a 30-consecutive day period.  Amenities include full hookups, electricity, bathrooms, showers, courtesy docks, beach access and a dump station. Popular activities include camping and fishing.   Fees:
  • Full hook up campsite: $35 per night
  • Partial hook up campsite: $30 per night
  • Tent campsite: $15 per night
  • Day Use fee (per vehicle): $5 per car
  • Day Use fee: $2 per person for walk-ins/bike-ins
  • Boat Ramp fee: $5 per day
  • Dump Station fee: $5 per dump
 

PRIMITIVE CAMPING
There are no reservations for primitive campsites. All primitive campsites are first-come, first-serve. Camping limited to 7 days within a 30-consecutive day period.  Camping permitted April 1 - October 31 at the following locations only:

Giles French Park (Rufus, OR): bathrooms, trails

Roosevelt Park (Roosevelt, WA): fishing, picnic shelters, windsurfing

Sundale Park (Klickitat County, WA): picnic area, vault toilet, *boat ramp open to the public outside of commercial treaty fishing seasons. 

Threemile Canyon Park (Boardman, OR): fishing, vault toilet, windsurfing

 

DAY-USE ONLY RECREATION AREAS (overnight camping prohibited)

Cliffs Park (Goldendale, WA): fishing, vault toilet

Paterson Park (Irrigon, OR): boat ramp, vault toilet (on Paterson Ferry Road, Irrigon, Ore.)

Railroad Island Park (Goldendale, WA): boat launch, fishing, vault toilet

Rock Creek (WA): Portable toilets. (35 miles east of The Dalles on Highway 14) 

 

PARTNER-OPERATED SITES

Crow Butte (WA) located at milepost 155 on Highway 14, is operated by the Port of Benton County. For information, call 509-948-6069.

Willow Creek (OR) RV campground is operated by Heppner Parks & Recreation. For information, call 541-676-5576.

Additional recreation sites are managed by the City of Arlington (I-84 exit 137, call 541-454-2868), Boardman Parks & Recreation (I-84 exit 165, call 541-481-7217), Irrigon Parks & Recreation (I-84 exit 168), and the Port of Umatilla (I-82 exit 1, call 541-922-3939 or 541-567-6151)

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