Upper John Day Rapids is a stretch of rapids in Klickitat County, Washington, in the Columbia Plateau region. It lies about 9.9 miles southeast of Goldendale and roughly 60.3 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.
Klickitat County holds 3 recorded rapids, and several are close by. Indian Rapids, a historical rapids rapid, is about 1.9 miles away across the state line in Oregon. Lower John Day Rapids, a historical rapids rapid, is about 1.9 miles away across the state line in Oregon. Schofield Rapids, a historical rapids rapid, is about 2.8 miles away across the state line in Oregon.
Upper John Day Rapids is located at 45.7360° N, 120.6567° 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.