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Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.
As the name implies, Big Bend Recreation Site's four campsites dominate the northern bank in a big bend of the John Day River just a few miles northeast of Kimberly, Oregon. The Bureau of Land Management charges a modest $5 per night to camp at these relatively primitive and very spacious campsites. Although the campground provides little refuge from the area's intense summer sun, the river's waters slow to create an ideal swimming hole.
Should Big Bend's four first-come, first-served campsites be full, try Lone Pine Recreation Site just a mile and a half further west on Highway 402.
Note: Due to the arid landscape, campfires are often banned during the summer months. See the recreation site's bulletin board for postings.
Logistics + Planning
Preferable season(s)
Spring
Summer
Fall
Parking Pass
Not Required
Pros
Adjacency to John Day River. Swimming hole.
Cons
Few amenities. Adjacent to highway.
Pets allowed
Allowed
Managed by
Bureau of Land Management
Features
Vault toilet
Swimming holes
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