| Middle Fork John Day River | |
| Name Etymology: | John Day, fur trapper |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Middle Fork John Day River in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Grant |
| Length: | 73.4miles[1] |
| Discharge1 Location: | Ritter, Oregon, 14.9miles from the mouth |
| Discharge1 Min: | 0.9cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 266cuft/s[2] |
| Discharge1 Max: | 5430cuft/s |
| Source1: | Blue Mountains |
| Source1 Location: | near Austin, Grant County, Oregon |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 44.5847°N -118.43°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 4254feet[3] |
| Mouth: | North Fork John Day River |
| Mouth Location: | near Slickear Mountain, Grant County, Oregon |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 44.9164°N -119.3022°W[4] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 2192feet |
| Basin Size: | 806sqmi[5] |
The Middle Fork John Day River is a 73miles tributary of the North Fork John Day River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It originates in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon in the Malheur National Forest near Austin and flows generally west to the North Fork about 18miles above Monument. The Middle Fork drainage basin covers about 806sqmi.[5]
The Oregon Scenic Waterways Program, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), protects the river for most of its length. The state lists a 60miles segment of the Middle Fork from about 71miles from the mouth to about 11miles from the mouth as a Scenic River Area and the lower 11miles as a Natural River Area. People planning to cut trees, mine, build roads or structures, or make other substantial changes within NaNmiles of the river must first notify OPRD and seek its approval.[6]