PAINTED HILLS OREGON
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Visit the Painted Hills & John Day Fossil Beds

Explore one of the most geologically diverse and scenic places in Oregon, known for its vibrant colors, otherworldly landscapes and beautiful blue skies. The area offers something for everyone to do including hiking, photography, bird watching, cycling, digging for fossils or just disconnecting for a while. Comprised of three units: The Painted Hills, Sheep Rock and Clarno, plus the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center and the beautiful surrounding area.
The Painted Hills of Oregon in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument; Mitchell, Wheeler County
The Painted Hills
Blue Basin, in the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds; Eastern Oregon
Sheep Rock
Clarno Unit; John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Eastern Oregon
Clarno
The beautiful John Day River in Mitchell, Oregon in the fall
The Surrounding Area

The Painted Hills

One of the 7 Wonders of Oregon, the Painted Hills are the most visited unit of the Fossil Beds and are famous for their stunning colors created by different geological eras. The most vibrant and saturated colors are seen after a rainfall, and the late afternoon sun makes the rolling hills look golden. In the morning, the light highlights different areas and makes for a unique experience, particularly for photography images.
Painted Hills in the John Day Fossil Beds on a beautiful summer day, Mitchell, Oregon
The Painted Hills from Overlook Trail on a beautiful summer day
Painted Cove Trail in the Painted Hills of Oregon, Mitchell, John Day Fossil Beds
Painted Cove Trail. Painted Hills
Sunset showing one of the many old trees at the Painted Hills in the John Day Fossil Beds
One of the many old trees at the Painted Hills at sunset
Wildflowers blooming in the summer at Red Hill in the Painted Hills of Oregon
Wildflowers blooming in the summer at Red Hill
Snow covering the Painted Hills of Oregon in winter, Mitchell, John Day Fossil Beds
Snow covering the Painted Hills of Oregon
Painted Cove trail on a cloudy day at the Painted Hills of Oregon
Painted Cove Trail on a cloudy day, Painted Hills
The beautiful view on the drive to the Painted Hills, Mitchell, Oregon
The view on the beautiful drive to the Painted Hills
Photograph at golden hour at the entrance to the Painted Hills in the fall. Mitchell, Oregon, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Golden Hour at the entrance to the Painted Hills
Bright colors showing through the snow at the Painted Hills of Oregon
Bright colors showing through the melting snow
Beautiful image of sunset at Painted Cove Trail in the summer, Mitchell, Oregon, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Painted Hills
Sunset at Painted Cove Trail in the Summer
Summer sunset, Painted Hills, John Day Fossil Beds
Summer Sunset from Overlook, Painted Hills
Late afternoon sun at Red Hill, Painted Hills, Mitchell, Oregon
Late afternoon sun at Red Hill, Painted Hills
Panoramic view of the Painted Hills from Carroll Rim Trail with an empty bench, John Day Fossil Beds
Stopping for a rest on Carroll Rim Trail at the Painted Hills
Summer at the Painted Hills of Oregon, Mitchell
Looking the other way from Overlook in the Summer
Stormy Sky over the Painted Hills in the Fall, John Day Fossil Beds, Mitchell, Oregon
Stormy Sky over the Painted Hills in the Fall
The back side of Red Hill is Yellow, painted hills oregon
The back side of Red Hill is actually Yellow
Saturated colors at Painted Cove after the rain
Cool blue, winter sky at Red Hill in the Painted Hills of Oregon
Cool blue sky in the winter at Red Hill
 

The Sheep Rock Unit

The Sheep Rock Unit has several stops (Blue Basin, Cathedral Rock, Foree & the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center) all marked by diverse features and beautiful hikes. You can also continue driving on Highway 19, part of the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, and stop and pick fresh, seasonal fruit in at Thomas Orchards in Kimberly. 
Photograph of Blue Basin on a beautiful Summer Day, John Day Fossil Beds, Sheep Rock Unit
Blue Basin in the Summer
Driving by Cathedral Rock in the Spring, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Sheep Rock Unit
Driving by Cathedral Rock in the spring
Foree, flood of fire trail,  in the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds
Foree, Flood of Fire Trail in the Sheep Rock Unit
Cathedral Rock in the Fall, John Day Fossil Beds, Sheep Rock Unit
Cathedral Rock in the Fall
stunning panoramic view of blue basin from overlook trail in the john day fossil beds of oregon, hiking destination
Panoramic view of Blue Basin from Overlook Trail
Leaving Blue Basin covered in snow, John Day Fossil Beds, Sheep Rock Unit
Leaving Blue Basin in the snow
Cathedral Rock in the Spring, Sheep Rock Unit, John Day Fossil Beds
Cathedral Rock in the Spring
Two trees at Foree
 

The Clarno Unit

The Clarno Unit is about an hour and a half northwest of Mitchell, Oregon past the town of Fossil. It is marked by jagged peaks and unique rock formations. While visiting, you can dig for fossils in of Fossil and stop at an old, ghost town, Shaniko.
Clarno Unit in the late summer with blue sky, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Clarno in the late Summer
Clarno peak that is taller than it looks peak when hiking up
I'ts taller than it looks when hiking up
Panoramic view of Clarno Unit, John Day Fossil Beds
Panoramic view of Clarno
Hiking up to the top of the Clarno Unit in the John Day Fossil Beds
Hiking up to the top
Looking down from the top of the Clarno unit of the John Day Fossil Beds
Looking down from the top
 

Where should I stay when visiting the John Day Fossil Beds? 

Mitchell, the Gateway to the Painted Hills, is the perfect place to stay when exploring the the area as it is the most central location for lodging to easily visit all three units of the Fossil Beds, and is the closest city to the Painted Hills. It is surrounded by beautiful landscapes with unique and varied scenery and is also central to the Ochoco National Forest and John Day River. 
Entering Mitchell, Oregon on Main Street
Entering Mitchell on Main Street
Driving toward Mitchell, on the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway
Driving toward Mitchell on the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway in the John Day Fossil Beds
Beautiful fall colors reflecting on the John Day River past the Painted Hills
Beautiful fall colors reflecting on the John Day River
Cows enjoying the scenery in Mitchell, Oregon, John Day Fossil Beds
Cows enjoying the scenery in Mitchell, Oregon
Fall colors reflecting on the John Day River
Fall colors reflecting on the John Day River
Wind Turbines in Eastern Oregon
Wind Turbines in Eastern Oregon
Twilight drive leaving the Painted Hills toward Mitchell in the winter with snow
Twilight drive leaving the Painted Hills toward Mitchell
Winter Colors on the John Day River in the Sheep Rock Unit
Winter colors on the John Day River in the Sheep Rock Unit
Summer Drive with a red barn on Highway 19 in the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds
Summer drive on Highway 19
Thomas Condon Paleontology Center
Thomas Condon Paleontology Center
Kam Wah Chung State Herigate Site
Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site
Shaniko, Oregon, an old almost ghost town
Shaniko, Oregon an almost ghost town

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