Gold Dredge Campground
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Gold Dredge Campground
This is a peaceful campground set in an open Ponderosa pine stand along the Wild and Scenic North Fork John Day River. Gold Dredge features 7 campsties and 1 accessible vault toilet. There is no potable water or garbage service, so please pack your garbage home. Attractions in this area include photography, swimming, non-motorized boating, and fishing. Water levels are low in mid to late summer, which can impede use of boats. The campground provides good access for big game hunting. In addition, the Oriental Trailhead is about 6 miles west, providing access to both OHV and wilderness trails.
Before you go
Season
Late May
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Single site: $8/night (extra $5 fee per vehicle exceeding the two-vehicle-per-site allowance.) • Group site: Site 6 is $25/night (no extra vehicle charge)
Hours
The campground is closed only by snow. However, it is only maintained seasonally from Memorial Day until mid-November. Since it is one of the lowest elevation campgrounds, it is earliest (and latest) to be free of snow.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.