The park includes hiking trails, primitive RV and tent campsites, and a day use area for hikers and bicyclists.

[1] The park is located on the Middle Fork John Day River, on the site of a lumber mill that closed in 1975.

[1] Located in the Blue Mountains, Bates State Park sits at 4,070 feet (1,240 m) above sea-level.

The day use area contains locations for picnicking and several miles of hiking trails are available.

[1] Interpretive panels describing the history of the town and the mill era are on display.