John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon

Painted Hills Walkway at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PaintedHillsWalkway.jpg
Author: Cacophony


John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is a nature site in Wheeler County and Grant County in eastern Oregon. Covering 13,944 acres (5,643 ha), this site is famous for its well-preserved and remarkably complete fossils of plants and animals.

The fossils of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument span 40 of the 65 million years of the Cenozoic Era. The fossils first came to light in 1861, when an army expedition uncovered what became understood as ancient rhinoceros teeth. The teeth were passed to Thomas Condon, a pastor of a nearby church, who highlighted their significance.

Snow on the Painted Hills
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joda_paintedhillssnow.jpg
Author: NPS Photo


Researchers from Yale University, Princeton University and the Smithsonian Institution were provided with hundreds of such fossil speciments. The information formed the basis on which field paleontologists such as John C. Merriam carried out excavation works.

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument was authorized on 26 October, 1974, and established the following year. The site comprises three sections namely Painted Hills, Sheep Rock and Clarno. Also within the monument is Blue Basin, an area of volcanic ash that has been colored blue by minerals in the ground.

Clarno Arch Trail, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joda_ClarnoArchTrail.jpg
Author: NPS Photo

Visiting John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon

The visitor center of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is on Highway 19, between Kimberley to the north and Dayville to the south. From Portland, take Interstate 84 (Old Oregon Trail Highway) to Pendleton, then at Exit 209 turn south on US Highway 395 (Pendleton-John Day Highway). At the end of Highway 395, continue west on US Highway 26 (John Day Highway) which continues as state route 19 (still John Day Highway) until you arrive at the visitor center to your right, after Dayville.

Clarno Palisades, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joda_clarnounit.jpg
Author: NPS Photo


The national monument is open daily during daylight hours. The visitor center at Thomas Condon Paleonthology Center is open year round, though the museum is cloaded on all Federal holidays between Thanksgiving Day and Presidents day. Opening hours of the center is between 9:00 am to 5:30 pm during summer and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm during winter. There are no entrance fees to this site, but donations are welcome.

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