Information
Landmark: Clarno UnitCity: John Day
Country: USA Oregon
Continent: North America
Clarno Unit, John Day, USA Oregon, North America
Overview
In northeastern Oregon, the Clarno Unit stands as one of three main sections of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, where cliffs of rust-colored rock catch the afternoon sun.Of the three units, it’s the oldest, offering a rare look into Oregon’s ancient subtropical world, with fossils and layered rock that have waited in the earth for some 44 million years since the Eocene epoch.Famous for its fossil-packed cliffs and jagged hills, the unit offers a rare glimpse into how mammals and plants first took shape in the Pacific Northwest.The Clarno Unit holds rich geological and paleontological value, built from layers of volcanic mudflows, roaring lahars, and sedimentary beds that once buried-and perfectly preserved-a remarkable variety of fossilized plants and animals.These deposits tell of a time when the land was warm and muggy, thick with towering evergreens-a stark contrast to the dry, sun-bleached hills of Eastern Oregon today.Among the highlights are fossilized leaves, seeds, and chunks of wood that capture the lush subtropical forests once thriving here, with ancestors of today’s magnolias, maples, and palms still etched in their grain.Fossilized Fauna: Remains of early mammals-primitive horses with teeth worn by grass, sturdy tapirs, massive rhinoceroses, and swift carnivores-offer vital clues to how mammals evolved during the Eocene.Fossilized fish, reptiles, and amphibians shed light on the rich variety of creatures that once swam through ancient river channels and basked in muddy wetlands.Layers of volcanic ash and thick, heavy mudflows sealed the fossils in place, preserving them in remarkable detail and revealing the region’s bursts of volcanic activity during the Eocene.For paleontologists, the Clarno Unit is a key site, offering clues about how mammals, plant communities, and entire ecosystems shifted as the climate warmed and cooled millions of years ago.The Clarno Unit offers a wilder, more secluded experience than the other areas, with paths that lead to fossil beds and striking cliffs.On the Clarno Palisades Trail, a brief walk takes you past sheer walls of stone where ancient layers, speckled with fossils, lie exposed.Interpretive signs point out the area’s geology and paleontology, from ancient seashell fossils to layered cliffs.At the fossil viewing sites, you can stand just feet from ancient stone logs and delicate leaf imprints, all safely displayed so the fragile deposits stay untouched.If you’re an experienced hiker, you can head deep into the backcountry, where you’ll trace the curves of ancient riverbeds and see volcanic mudflows hardened into rippled stone.Although the Clarno Unit’s climate is now semi‑arid, you can still spot sagebrush, juniper, and hardy wildlife perfectly adapted to the sharp sun and dry winds of the high desert.Sagebrush, juniper, soft clumps of grass, and bright wildflowers cover the land, while mule deer slip through the brush, coyotes prowl at dusk, rabbits dart into the shadows, and raptors circle high overhead.Wildflower bursts in spring and the sweep of seasonal migrations bring the unit’s landscape to life.The Clarno Unit doubles as an open-air classroom, where visitors can study geology, unearth fossil clues, and trace the story of ancient climates baked into the sun-warmed rock.Visitors can discover the Eocene epoch and picture the warm, lush forests that once covered what’s now Oregon.How plants and animals get preserved in volcanic ash, and the fossilization process that locks their shapes in stone.How mammals first evolved and how they fit into the web of life in ancient ecosystems, from tiny nocturnal hunters to the plants they depended on.Ranger talks and interpretive signs bring the fossils and rock formations to life, giving visitors a clear sense of why each discovery here matters-like the imprint of a fern frozen in stone for millions of years.At the Clarno Unit, visitors step into a world of jagged cliffs, wide-open views, and trails that whisper with history, blending striking scenery with chances to learn and moments of pure discovery.You can hike winding trails here or snap photos of jagged palisades, sunlit cliffs layered with fossils, and wide-open views that seem to stretch for miles.Because it’s tucked away, the unit stays peaceful-a place where you might hear only the wind in the sage-unlike the busier Painted Hills and Sheep Rock units.The Clarno Unit stands as a cornerstone of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, guarding the oldest and most varied fossil record of the three units-leaf imprints still etched in stone after millions of years.Layered cliffs, petrified leaves and shells, and well-curated exhibits together make this a vital place to grasp ancient climates, vanished ecosystems, and how life evolved across North America.Here, visitors can step into deep time, wander through ancient stone and sunlit cliffs, and see firsthand the scientific work that uncovers Earth’s long and intricate story.
