Cottonwood Canyon State Park in north-central Oregon preserves a long, remote stretch of the lower John Day River within an arid canyon of grasslands, sagebrush, river bottoms, and basalt cliffs. Established in 2013 on former ranchland acquired through conservation efforts, it became Oregon’s second-largest state park, with its recreational landscape effectively enlarged by adjacent Bureau of Land Management land. The park includes historic ranch headquarters adapted for visitors, campgrounds, trails, river access for boating and fishing, and an education center. Its dark night skies earned International Dark Sky Park certification in 2024, and its broad undeveloped habitat supports bighorn sheep, elk, pronghorn, raptors, and wildflowers.