The Long Way
Wheeler County
A calm river reflecting rocky hills under a clear blue sky.
Plate I. John Day River at Priest Hole Recreation Site. From mitchelloregon.us
A wide river flowing through a dry, hilly landscape under a blue sky.
Plate II. John Day River, Priest Hole Recreation Site. From mitchelloregon.us
A close-up view of stones and rocks on a sandy ground.
Plate III. Sandy beach area, Priest Hole Recreation Site. From thedyrt.com
A tent sits in a field beneath distant silhouetted hills at sunrise.
Plate IV. Campsite at Priest Hole Recreation Site. From thedyrt.com

Priest Hole Recreation Site (BLM), Wheeler County, OR

Mitchell, Wheeler County, Oregon. Recreation Site.

Details

Map. Mitchell, Wheeler County, Oregon. Larger map
Where
Mitchell, Wheeler County, OR. No street address stated. Directions
Season
Open year-round; the rough road to the site can make access difficult in winter or wet weather.
Getting there
Priest Hole is located on the John Day River about 12 miles from Mitchell, Oregon. From Prineville, head east on Highway 26 and turn north on Burnt Ranch Road toward the John Day Fossil Beds, Painted Hills Unit. Pass the Painted Hills and follow the gravel road for three miles.
Fees
No fees for camping or floating the one-mile section around Priest Hole.
Access
Trailers exceeding 25 feet advised against; rough semi-improved roads in winter or wet weather.
Walk-in or reserve
A free paper permit found at kiosks is required to float the one mile section of river around Priest Hole.
Phone
541-416-6700
Managed by
Prineville District Office, Bureau of Land Management.
Coordinates
44.739287, -120.271366.

Priest Hole is a local favorite for fishing and swimming. Stopping here is a natural part of a visit to the Painted Hills, a gateway to the "John Day Country" of eastern Oregon.

Notable Events

  1. 2024The BLM moved ahead with designated campsites, picnic tables, fire rings, an additional vault toilet, and restoring the agriculture field to native species and planting cottonwoods along the edge of the river. centraloregondaily.com
  2. 2025The BLM reopened the Priest Hole Recreation Site after a renovation led by the Wheeler Soil & Water Conservation District that added 14 new campsites and two group day use areas and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat by planting and irrigating vegetation across 45 acres. blm.gov

Sources

  1. blm.gov/visit/priest-hole-recreation-site
  2. thedyrt.com/camping/oregon/priest-hole-recreation-site
  3. mitchelloregon.us/visit/page/priest-hole
  4. blm.gov/visit/priest-hole-recreation-site
  5. blm.gov/announcement/blm-reopens-priest-hole-recreation-site
  6. centraloregondaily.com/the-great-outdoors/oregon-priest-hole-recreation-john-day-river/article_0a27c338-2378-11ef-a199-17e6d9d0ef9e.html
  7. blm.gov/visit/john-day-wild-and-scenic-river
  8. blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/oregon-washington/john-day-river