Kam Wah Chung and Company was a Chinese-run grocery store, dry goods store, and clinic in John Day. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2005. The combination of commerce and medical care makes the company’s history a tangible cultural-historical point of interest for a stay in John Day.
Cultural History and Bike Route
The Old West Scenic Bikeway begins in the city of John Day at the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site. This places the historic landmark at the starting point of a named bike route. For travelers considering cultural history and cycling when choosing a destination, John Day offers two distinct points of interest: the history of Kam Wah Chung and Company and the route’s starting point.
Parks for Walking and Activity
Davis Creek Park offers about 0.75 miles of easy gravel paths and impressive views of the John Day River valley. The park is open; check conditions before your visit. It also connects residential neighborhoods around Valley View Drive with Patterson Bridge Road, as well as with the John Day River and the Innovation Gateway.
The 7th Street Complex is a 23-acre multipurpose facility. A small fishing pond is stocked each year for anglers. There is also a paved, one-mile path for walking and running. With its pond and path, the facility offers both fishing and walking activities.
The parks differ in path length and surface: Davis Creek offers about 0.75 miles of easy gravel paths, while the path at the 7th Street Complex is one mile long and paved. The latter is for walking and running; Davis Creek adds views of the John Day River Valley to its paths.
John Day Bike Park is another option focused specifically on cycling: it has 2 miles of singletrack bike trails and a dirt pump track. This distinguishes it from the paved walking and running path at the 7th Street Complex. Here, the focus is on singletrack and the pump track for cycling.
Riverfront and Practical Amenities
Hill Family Park has restrooms, drinking water, and a riverside picnic area. It also provides access to the John Day trail system. This combines practical amenities with a connection to local trails. As amenities may change, check before your visit whether the listed facilities are available.
Fallen Officer Park offers river access and shaded picnic tables. Together with Hill Family Park, it gives you a clear choice based on practical details: Hill has restrooms, drinking water, a riverside picnic area, and access to the trail system; Fallen Officer Park offers river access and shade. If you’re choosing a park for a break, you can use these differences to guide your choice.
Discover more destinations: Long Creek, Dayville.
Return to the regional travel overview: Grant County.
