Location: About 11 miles northwest of the Painted Hills Unit on Burnt Ranch Road.
Open: All Year
*Rough roads make this site not always easy to access during winter months!
Rate: Free of charge for camping on public lands.
Spaces: Natural openings for walk-in camping on sandy shoreline, no developed sites, BLM maintained, Only walk in camping! No vehicles allowed on the beach!
Amenities: No Restroom. There is a restroom located at the boat launch 1/4 mile down the road at the Lower Burnt Ranch Recreation Site. No Garbage Collection! Haul all trash out! Campfires must be contained in a metal firepan and ashes hauled out with trash; an annual Fire Closure is in effect from June 1 to September 30 (no fires or charcoal are permitted during this time period).
Description: The Burnt Ranch Beach Recreation Site is one of the most romantic camping settings with its soft sandy river beach, a small grove of gnarled trees and impressive rock formations looming above the John Day River. Cars can be parked in a parking area provided on top or below but aren’t allowed on the beach. Campers should “leave no trace,” and fire pans are required. There is great fishing and swimming and a great hike along the shore. More camping possibilities are found ¼ mile down the Burnt Ranch Road at the Lower Burnt Ranch Recreation Site. There, a road leads down to the river (just follow the boat launch sign), into a lovely canyon with Juniper trees and sagebrush and a more rocky shore with great fishing spots. There is a basic restroom at Lower Burnt Ranch Recreation Site.
Recreation: Hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, birding, wildlife observation