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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2015)
CLYDE HOLLIDAY State Recreation Site Phone: 541-932-4453 CAMPING OREGON STATE PARKS PHOTO Oregon State Parks and Recreation offers two outstanding park campgrounds in Grant County – one, a longtime favorite with travelers and the other, a newer jewel in the park system’s crown. Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site and Bates State Park each offer comfortable camping in pleasant, riverside settings. Clyde Holliday is popular with the road-weary travelers, conveniently located on Highway 26 just east of Mt. Vernon. It features 31 electrical sites for folks passing through or those who want to use it as a base camp to explore the area’s many attractions, from the Fossil Beds to the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. The John Day River, shaded by tall cottonwoods, provides a nice trail experience, while Clyde Holliday’s campsites are shaded by a variety of landscape trees planted years ago. Birds abound in the park, drawn to the foliage of the campground and the river habitat. In the summer, rangers and others offer interpretive programs at the outdoor amphitheatre. Bates State Park, sitting on the site of a former lumber mill community near Austin Junction, celebrates the region’s rich timber history and natural resources. The park sits in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, east of Dixie Butte, along the Middle Fork John Day River. The park opened in September 2010, wrapping up months of site preparation, landscaping, tree planting and more. The opening was the realization of a dream for people who lived in Bates when it was a thriving mill community. Workers planted more than 4,000 trees and shrubs at the park, which features 28 primitive campground sites designed for tents and self-contained RVs. Park visitors enjoy the solitude, quiet and natural beauty of the setting. The park makes a great base camp for hikers, snowmobilers, ATV enthusiasts and hunters, as well as RV campers. Where: Just east of Mt. Vernon, 7 miles west of John Day. Sites: 31 with electric and water hookups and a maximum length of 60 feet; hiker/biker camp; 2 tepees. Amenities: Fire rings and picnic tables at sites; shower and restroom building; large day-use area; horseshoe pits. Season: Open March 1 - November 30, depending on the weather. Reservations: Campsites are first-come, first-served. Tepees can be reserved by calling Reservations Northwest at 1-800-452-5687. More info: www.oregonstateparks.org BATES STATE PARK Where: County Road 20, one mile north of the junction of U.S. Highway 26 and Oregon Highway 7. Sites: 28 primitive campsites tents or RVs, and 6 hiker/biker campsites. Water: Potable water is available. Amenities: Fire rings and picnic tables at sites; day-use area with a picnic shelter; vault toilets; more than three miles of hiking trails. Season: Open May 1 -October 31, depending on the weather. Reservations: No. Sites are first-come, first-served. More info: oregonstateparks.org See page 26 and 27 for additional camp sites around Grant County