Bates State Park in Oregon, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-26. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bates State Park in Oregon’s Blue Mountains occupies the site of a former lumber mill and company town. Walking trails, the old millpond, and interpretive panels make its industrial history part of an outdoor visit. The park also provides seasonal, first-come camping for tents, self-contained RVs, and touring cyclists.

Highlights at the former mill site

• Bates Pond and valley viewpoints: more than three miles of trails connect views of the pond and surrounding landscape.
• Company-town stories: interpretive panels explain life at Bates and efforts to restore its waterways.
• Three waterways: the park lies along the Middle Fork John Day River, Bridge Creek, and Clear Creek.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Share park roads carefully

Bicycles may use park roads in the direction of traffic. Riders younger than 16 must wear helmets. Use the campground map to distinguish roads from hiking routes before setting out.

Visit responsibly

Keep pets physically restrained, with a leash no longer than 6 feet, and remove their waste. Do not park vehicles on the grass. Campground quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Camping arrangements

Bates camping is first come, first served. Plan to select an available site when you arrive rather than treating an online campground listing as a reservation. Call the park about current arrangements for a group visit.

Maps, location, and access

The park is on Middle Fork Lane near Oregon Highway 7. This is the former Bates mill site in the Blue Mountains, not a campground in the town of John Day. Use the park’s official location page to confirm the approach.

Nearby parks and heritage sites

• Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site: this separate historic site is in John Day; entry to the historic building is by guided tour.
• Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site: this riverside recreation site is a separate stop in the John Day area.

Walk the pond and learn about Bates

Choose a route from the official campground and trail map. It identifies Bates Pond Trail, Boulder Loop, and connecting paths, so you can combine the pond with a viewpoint rather than follow an assumed single loop.

Read the interpretive panels as you walk. They connect the open mill site and its pond with the former community and present restoration work. Fishing in the area follows Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations; check the rules for your exact waterway.

Camping facilities and accessibility

The campground has 28 primitive sites for tents or self-contained RVs, vault toilets, and potable water. A hiker/biker area provides six sites with electric plug-ins. Three campsites are identified as accessible to campers with disabilities; ask the park about the route and site features needed for your stay.

From company town to state park

History of Bates

Bates Mill operated from 1917 to 1975. After it closed, buildings were removed and former residents moved away, some taking their houses with them. Community efforts helped preserve the site’s memory. OPRD purchased the property from Grant County in April 2008.

Contact

Park information: 541-932-4453. Oregon State Parks general information: 800-551-6949. Ask about seasonal opening, site availability, and group-use arrangements before making a special trip.