John Day

Elevation: 3,087

Population: 1,704

With the only stoplight in Grant County, John Day is the “big city.” Centrally located at the intersection of highways 26 and 395, the town has facilities serving the surrounding areas, including a hospital, county fairgrounds, airport, industrial park, Chamber of Commerce and library, as well as a grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants, pubs and other businesses. John Day is home to the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site, a carefully preserved relic of the area’s 19^th century mining boom. Built in 1865, the building housed a Chinese apothecary and general store and now serves as a museum. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has purchased the adjacent city park property and is planning a new interpretive center on the site. A few blocks away on Main Street, you’ll find the Ranch and Rodeo Museum, which celebrates the cowboy way of life in Grant County. The Seventh Street Sports Complex on the north side of town offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Just west of town, the John Day Golf Club invites guests to play nine holes and enjoy the stunning views overlooking the course from a large banquet room in the clubhouse. The new Davis Creek Park offers scenic overlooks and hiking trails that connect to a network of pedestrian and bicycle paths along the John Day River in the heart of town.

Explore John Day

• The Seventh Street Sports Complex features baseball and softball fields, tennis and basketball courts, a skate park, a fishing pond, picnic areas, a playground and a paved mile-long trail that circles the property. It features a newly constructed 6,800-square-foot kiddie park with two playground areas for different ages, as well as an 87-by-37-foot splash pad with a variety of water features. The John Day Bike Park has single-track trails winding back and forth across the hill overlooking the complex, as well as slope-style jumps and a skills course with its own pump track. To visit the complex, take Bridge Street north from Highway 26 (Main Street) and turn right on Seventh Street.

Canyon City

Elevation: 3,173

Population: 687

When gold was discovered here in 1862, Canyon City quickly sprang up as a booming mining town with about 10,000 residents — at the time, it had more inhabitants than Portland, Oregon’s current largest city. After the rush, the population dwindled, but the community remembers its origins in an annual ’62 Days Celebration in June. Canyon City is the county seat, with government offices and a variety of businesses. The Grant County Historical Museum houses artifacts, documents and photographs that bring the county’s history to life. In the heart of town, Sproul Park features a playground, picnic area, restrooms and a covered stage that is the site of summer concerts.

Explore Canyon City

• Canyon Mountain Trail is a hidden gem that provides incredible views of the John Day Valley. The 28-mile trail takes hikers in and out of the burn area from a 2015 wildfire, crossing several creeks and streams fed by snowmelt. To reach the trailhead, travel east 2 miles on County Road 52 from Canyon City and take a right on County Road 77 for about a quarter-mile. Then take another right on Forest Road 7700333 to the trailhead.