Painted Hills — Attraction in Prineville

Beautiful naturally painted hills and colors are vivid on a bright sunny day. This is a hidden gem in Oregon and must visit. Not crowded and there are a bunch of easy to medium hikes. Carroll Rim Trail (1.6 miles round trip).The best overall hike features panoramic views of the Painted Hills, Sutton Mountain and canyons as far as the eye can see. It’s also a great place to watch a high desert sunset. The trail is a bit steep, with about 400 feet of climb up a series of switchbacks. There is a small parking area at the trailhead. Painted Hills Overlook Trail (0.5 miles)

The classic trail of the Painted Hills follows a ridge just above the multicolored mounds, offering many places for photographers to set up shop. Signs inform visitors of what they’re looking at, and the trail ends at the best overall viewpoint after about 100 feet of climb.

Painted Cove Trail (0.25 mile loop)

It’s not legal to climb all over the Painted Hills, and it’s difficult to even get that close. That’s why this is such a cool trail. It gets you up close and personal with the colorful clay hills on a short boardwalk trail.

Red Scar Knoll Trail (0.25 miles)

The multicolored knoll in question looks a bit like a magician’s hat, or the world’s largest ant colony rising out of the ground. This out-and-back trail gives you another close look at what makes the Painted Hills painted.

Leaf Hill Trail (0.25 mile loop)

The Leaf Hill area has been the site of extensive paleontological research. No fossils can be seen today along the trail, but an interpretive exhibit shows examples of a few leaves that have been...

I was visiting John Day Fossil Beds National Monument for the first time on April 18, 2021. There isn’t any admission cost and there’s parking for large vehicles. No phone services and gas stations in most areas, so keep your tank filled and download the directions ahead of time. The road was paved and easy to drive until it got to Painted Hills. It was a dirt gravel road but it is not that bad. As there is no shade, the best time to visit this park is before or after summer vacation. Wow! I have never seen such interesting terrain and so spectacular a natural landscape in my life. It was like I'd stepped onto another planet! The painted hills get their name from the delicately colored stratifications in the soil. It’s as if the hills have been air-brushed with layers of colors. It is amazing with the glorious yellows, golds, blacks, greens, purples, and reds all mixed in as in a sand painting. I think they are best seen at sunset. In this magical setting, the tones and hues change with the time of day, the seasons, and the weather. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time for John Day's Clarno. It would have added 4 hours. I did have enough time to hike all the trails of the Painted Hills they are all very short, but all worth checking out. I will come back to Painted hills again and aim to explore more of the John Day national monument. The photos I took could not capture how beautiful these hills are. It is an otherworldly place, so incredible, so very scenic, and so truly breathtaking. The Painted Hills should be the 8th wonder...

I had been here a couple times. One I was too young to remember, the other was several years ago before cell phones took good pictures. I went back on a camping trip and it's just like I remember! This place is so beautiful! The topography is very unique and the geology and history that makes this place what it is is incredible. I am a certifiable geology nerd and the Painted Hills along with the other units that make up the John Day Fossil Beds are fascinating. The whole area used to be forested until volcanic eruptions covered everything with pyroclastic flows and lava flows over long periods. Trees and other plants were buried and over time as the ash layers and lava eroded away, copper, iron and other minerals leeched out and colored the hills with green, brown, red, orange, and blue hues. The ash left weenie deposits, while it5run oxides color ther ash red, brown, and orange. Copper creates blue and green. It's a long drive from Portland and Vancouver (3+ hrs). You do drive through some of the most beautiful parts if Oregon and the Ochoco. There are several hiking trails in the various parts of the Painted Hills. They are pretty short (easy hikes under 2 miles) but the views you get are spectacular. It's hot and dry during the summer so be prepared for sun and heat. Best time to go is spring and fall. Check it out. The visitor centers for the Fossil Beds stre closed due to COVID-19, but still...