The Umatilla National Forest, in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington, covers an area of 1.4 million acres (5,700 km2).

Thousands of emigrants later followed the Oregon Trail west, and many remained in the Blue Mountain region.

Discovery of gold in Oregon in 1851 led to the settlement of the North Fork John Day River area.

Common wildlife in the Umatilla National Forest include moose,[8] elk, bighorn sheep, black bear, mountain goat, mule deer, white-tailed deer, timber wolf,[9] cougar, coyote, badger, Merriam's turkeys, transplanted Rio Grande wild turkeys, blue and ruffed grouse, Franklin's grouse, chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout,[6] brook trout, and lake trout.

[11] Common recreational activities in the Umatilla National Forest include OHV riding, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, wildlife watching, skiing, and rafting.