South Fork John Day River
Seneca, Oregon
Free — you'll pick up right here.
No verdict for this water
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Malheur National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
River facts
- Water
- Flows year-round
- Average flow
- 103 cfs
- Average current
- 1.4 ft/s
- Gradient
- 46.6 ft/mi
- Drainage area
- 604 sq mi
Long-term averages modeled by USGS (NHDPlus HR), not today's conditions. Check a gauge before you go.
Here's your day on the water, mapped
South Fork John Day River
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this water
South Fork John Day River is a 56-mile paddling stretch near Seneca, Oregon. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 103 cfs and a gradient of about 46.6 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Add to a trip & share
Keep exploring — more water worth the drive
Photo: Finetooth, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Silvies River
~40 min drive
Silvies River is an 84-mile paddling stretch near Seneca, Oregon. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 230 cfs and a gradient of about 9.9 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Magone Lake Boat Launch
~1h 3m drive
Magone Lake Boat Launch is a boat launch in Oregon.
Photo: Finetooth, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)South Fork Crooked River
~57 min drive
South Fork Crooked River is a 42-mile paddling stretch near Prineville, Oregon. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 104 cfs and a gradient of about 11.7 feet per mile.
Boat Ramp
~1h 16m drive
A worthwhile stop near Oregon.
Photo: Max Schwarz, CC BY-SA 2.5 (via Wikimedia Commons)Crooked River
~1h 1m drive
Crooked River is a 1.2-mile paddling stretch near Post, Oregon. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 526 cfs and a gradient of about 10.1 feet per mile.
Wooden Bridge River Access
~1h 24m drive
A worthwhile stop near Oregon.
Photo: Finetooth, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Silver Creek
~1h 5m drive
Silver Creek is a 60-mile paddling stretch near Riley, Oregon. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 54 cfs and a gradient of about 17.9 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Malheur River
~1h 19m drive
Malheur River is a 14-mile paddling stretch near Vale, Oregon. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 261 cfs and a gradient of about 48.6 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Photo: Finetooth, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Bridge Creek
~1h 21m drive
Bridge Creek is a 28-mile paddling stretch near Mitchell, Oregon. It flows year-round. USGS models an average flow of about 54 cfs and a gradient of about 162.1 feet per mile.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)North Fork Crooked River
~1h 3m drive
North Fork Crooked River is a 20-mile paddling stretch near Post, Oregon. It is intermittent and may run dry in some seasons. USGS models an average flow of about 180 cfs and a gradient of about 27.9 feet per mile. Land along it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
