Information
Landmark: Painted Hills UnitCity: John Day
Country: USA Oregon
Continent: North America
Painted Hills Unit, John Day, USA Oregon, North America
Overview
In northeastern Oregon, the Painted Hills Unit is one of three unique sections of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, its striped slopes glowing red and gold in the sun.Famous for its vivid, striped hills and striking rock shapes, it’s a breathtaking part of the monument that reveals how the land and climate have changed over millions of years.The Painted Hills reveal bands of volcanic ash, mudstone, siltstone, and clay, each layer stacked over the last like pages in an ancient book, laid down over tens of millions of years.The vivid bands of red, gold, black, and tan come from the soil’s chemistry: iron oxides burn the earth with reds and yellows, manganese deepens it to charcoal tones, and silica-rich layers leave pale, almost chalky streaks.Each layer marks a separate epoch, showing shifts in climate, vegetation, and how sediments settled-like a thin band of clay after a long, dry season.The unit’s formations, laid down between the late Eocene and the Miocene-about 44 to 7 million years ago-preserve a vivid record of shifting environments, from warm coastal plains to cooler inland habitats.The Painted Hills dazzle the eye with bands of gold and rust, and they’re also a vital place for studying paleoclimate, sediment layers, and ancient fossilized plants.Fossilized leaves and seeds from the area reveal what once grew in ancient Oregon, tracing a change from lush, subtropical forests to the dusty, seasonal landscapes that followed.The Painted Hills Unit invites visitors to explore its striking scenery and scientific wonders along winding trails and well-placed viewpoints.From the Painted Hills Overlook, you can take in sweeping views of the vibrant hills-bands of red, gold, and black laid out like a giant canvas-perfect for snapping photos or studying the layered rock.Painted Cove Trail is a short loop that twists through hills striped in reds and golds, offering close-up looks at layered soil, small interpretive signs, and the land’s natural textures.The Carroll Rim Trail is a moderate loop that climbs to sweeping views of the Painted Hills, with golden grasslands at your feet and distant ridges fading into blue, showcasing the scale and variety of the land.Signs along the trail share vivid details about the area’s geology, paleontology, and climate history, guiding visitors to see how the hills took shape and why their layers glow in bands of rust, gold, and gray.Although the Painted Hills look bare at first glance, they’re home to hardy plants and wildlife built for the dry heat-sagebrush, lizards, and the occasional jackrabbit darting between the rocks.Native grasses, bursts of wildflowers, and hardy shrubs flourish in the soil, while deer slip through the brush and coyotes lope nearby; rabbits dart for cover as hawks circle overhead.As the seasons shift, wildflowers splash the fields with color, and you might spot a hawk circling overhead.The Painted Hills Unit works like an open-air classroom, where visitors can explore geology, paleontology, and environmental science under the sweep of rust-red and gold-striped hills.Layers of sediment hold the tale of ancient rivers carving through rock, volcanoes scattering ash, and climates slowly changing over centuries.In this area, fossilized plants offer a glimpse into ecosystems that thrived tens of millions of years ago, when dense forests shaded the ground.Rangers lead engaging talks and guided walks, while signs and brochures let visitors explore at their own pace, helping them take in the site’s quiet beauty and understand its scientific importance.Although the Painted Hills Unit remains mostly untouched to protect its wild beauty, you’ll still find the basics you need for a safe, enjoyable trip-like small parking lots tucked beside key trailheads and scenic overlooks.Restrooms are basic, with a few stalls tucked beside the main trailheads.Interpretive panels share vivid details about the area’s geology, ancient fossils, and rich natural history-like a slab of sandstone dotted with tiny shell imprints.Please stay on the marked trails so the fragile soil stays intact and erosion stays low; it’s the only way to keep the hills’ brilliant reds and golds-and their natural shape-safe for years to come.The Painted Hills Unit stands out as both a hub for scientific discovery and a striking landmark, its layered cliffs glowing in shades of gold and crimson.The hills rise in bold layers of red, gold, and green, telling the story of Oregon’s geologic past and tracing millions of years of shifting climates and landscapes.Visitors find a rare mix here: sweeping hills striped with red and gold, hands-on learning, and adventures that pull you right into the outdoors, making it one of the most celebrated landscapes in both the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the Pacific Northwest.
