Lower John Day Rapids is a stretch of rapids in Sherman County, Oregon, in the Columbia Plateau region. It lies about 9.7 miles southeast of Goldendale and roughly 61.8 miles south of Yakima as the crow flies.
The Columbia Plateau is a vast expanse of layered basalt flows covered by sagebrush steppe, grassland and dryland wheat. Waterfalls here drop over basalt cliffs in coulees and river canyons carved by ancient floods.
There are 3 recorded rapids in Sherman County. Schofield Rapids, a historical rapids rapid, is under a mile away. Upper John Day Rapids, a historical rapids rapid, is about 1.9 miles away across the state line in Washington. Indian Rapids, a historical rapids rapid, is about 3.8 miles away.
Lower John Day Rapids is located at 45.7165° N, 120.6859° W. The listing is based on the USGS Geographic Names Information System, one of the sources compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey in its inventory of waterfalls and rapids of the conterminous United States. The exact position has not yet been verified on aerial imagery, so treat the map pin as approximate. Details on trails, parking and access have not been documented for this rapid yet.