The Middle Fork John Day River is a 73 mi tributary of the North Fork John Day River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It originates in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon in the Malheur National Forest near Austin and flows generally west to the North Fork about 18 mi above Monument. The Middle Fork drainage basin covers about 806 sqmi. The Oregon Scenic Waterways Program, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), protects the river for most of its length. The state lists a 60 mi segment of the Middle Fork from about 71 mi from the mouth to about 11 mi from the mouth as a Scenic River Area and the lower 11 mi as a Natural River Area. People planning to cut trees, mine, build roads or structures, or make other substantial changes within 1/4 mi of the river must first notify OPRD and seek its approval.