Bates State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Bates State Park is located in Eastern Oregon and offers visitors a chance to explore the beauty of the area's natural landscapes.
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Summary
The park is situated along the Middle Fork of the John Day River and is surrounded by ponderosa pines and other native plants.
There are several good reasons to visit Bates State Park, including the chance to go hiking, fishing, and camping. The park also features a historic sawmill that is open for tours, providing visitors with an opportunity to learn about the area's logging history.
One of the main points of interest in Bates State Park is the sawmill itself. The mill was built in the 1920s and was in operation until the 1970s. It has since been restored and visitors can see the original equipment used to process logs into lumber.
Additionally, the park offers several hiking trails that wind through the forest and along the river. One of the most popular trails is the Old Mill Trail, which follows the Middle Fork of the John Day River and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Interesting facts about the area include that Bates State Park was once a bustling logging town, and the mill was one of the largest in the region. The town was abandoned in the 1970s, but the mill was restored in the 1990s and is now a popular attraction for visitors.
The best time of year to visit Bates State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and sunny. However, visitors can also enjoy the fall foliage and winter activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Bates State Park
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Deerhorn Forest Camp
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Deerhorn Campground
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Deerhorn Camp
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Middle Fork Campground
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Dixie Campground
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