John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Painted Hills Unit — Attraction in Prineville

Painted Hills is one of three units comprising the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Near Mitchell, Oregon, the area is regarded as one of the most beautifully striking regions in Eastern Oregon. The Painted Hills receive their name from spectacular colors and banded striations that appear hand-painted with an artistic quality that seems almost unnatural and highly surreal. These colors shift in appearance throughout different times of the day due to the varying angles of the sun. They absolutely explode in vibrancy after a thunderstorm, with a full saturated color palette due to the polarizing light filtering the sun’s rays through the clouds. Colors range from burnt red, amber, orange, yellow, and gold, with streaks of black and grey reminiscent of an artist’s creation. The Painted Hills of Oregon are a top destination for painters and landscape photographers alike, searching to capture the beauty of this protected region.

The Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is noted mostly for its colorful geology made of heavily eroded volcanic ash layers deposited during ancient times when the area was a river plain with a warm tropical climate. Over time, the layers of ash formed with different mineral compositions, which led to the incredible bands of color seen today. The red and orange hues are from laterite soil which formed by floodplain deposits. The grey coloring is from mudstone, shale, and siltstone. The striations of black soil are lignite which was vegetation that grew along the floodplain. It is from these layers of ash, minerals, and vegetative matter, coupled with eons of erosion from the powerful forces of nature that caused the painted hills to emerge as we see them today.

The Painted Hills unit is open year-round with easy access for all visitors. There are a handful of well-marked trails to guide you through the park. As the area is fairly open and level, these are considered more of a moderate walk than a hike. The Painted Hills Overlook Trail is ½ mile, and provides views of the most popular viewing point. At another section of the unit is the Painted Cove Trail at ¼ mile in length. Much of this trail is on a boardwalk which offers an extremely close-up view of the Painted Coves and their entire burnt red and orange glow. Visible from the Painted Coves is a view of a picturesque reservoir that is inaccessible as it is private land. The Leaf Hill Trail at ¼ mile takes you to the location of significant scientific studies in the 1920s and 1990s where thousands of leaf fossils were found and preserved. The recently developed Red Hill Trail at ¼ mile is located at the far western edge of the unit and was created as a short walk to a colorful lookout. A slightly longer hike is the Carroll Rim Trail at 1 ½ miles. This trail takes you three hundred feet in elevation to an overlook atop the Painted Hills. The trails in the area are short and purposeful, in order to keep visitors away from the delicate hills. The “paintings” are so incredibly delicate that a man-made foot track can scar the hills for many years. Therefore, extreme caution is advised and full respect for the landscape...

The Painted Hills Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are located in eastern Oregon, USA. This scenic, colourful desert park is a fantastic corner of Oregon with a very interesting landscape. I have compared these badlands hills to a three way cross between the reds of the Utah canyons, the clay bank badlands of Drumheller, Canada and the vegetation being like the Okanagan/Okanogan region of Washington/British Columbia. It is however unique unto itself and gorgeous mixture of mountains, canyons, badlands, forests, grasslands and semi-arid scrub land. The Cascade Mountains to the west rain shadow the area creating an arid landscape in this part of Oregon. The badlands are ablaze with bright colours and the trees make for contrasting greenery. There are desert plants here such as Brittle Prickly Pear Cacti (Opuntia Fragilis) and Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus Scopulorum). The hikes here aren't too crowded and the scenery is certainly worth the...

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, particularly the Painted Hills area, is a breathtaking destination that showcases nature's artistry. The vibrant hues of the hills, ranging from deep reds to golden yellows, create a stunning landscape that is both surreal and captivating. Walking through the trails, you can’t help but marvel at the geological wonders that tell a story millions of years in the making.

The area is well-maintained, with informative signs that provide insights into the history and formation of the hills. It's a perfect spot for photography, hiking, and simply soaking in the natural beauty. Whether you're a geology enthusiast or just someone who appreciates striking landscapes, the Painted Hills are an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended for anyone...