John Day River

The John Day River is a river in Oregon, United States, that flows for 281 miles (452 kilometers) west and north into the Columbia River. The river itself is named after John Day, a scout for the Astor overland expedition in 1811. The North Fork of the John Day River is part of the U.S. Wild and Scenic Rivers system.12

The city of John Day, located in Grant County, Oregon, is situated at the confluence of the John Day River and Canyon Creek. This area was a stopover on the Pony Express trail and developed in the early 1860s as a mining and cattle town. Today, the city serves as a trading point for the region and headquarters for the Malheur National Forest. The economy relies on timber, beef, and tourism. Nearby attractions include the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, which contains fossils over 30 million years old, and Picture Gorge with ancient Indian pictographs.2