John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Oregon

John Day Fossil Beds are an important discovery in both the scientific and natural history community and serve as a place for educational exploration. The fossil beds are sedimentary rock that preserve a delicate record of animal and plant life from historic times. The fossil beds were established as a national monument by congress in 1975 and has been a place of intrigue that has been attracting visitors for many years. Scientists have conducted numerous field investigations in an attempt to analyze the vast fossil record. The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is over 14,000 acres of land that the National Park Service has divided into three distinct units. The three areas are called the Clarno Unit, Painted Hills Unit, and the Sheep Rock Unit. The Clarno Unit contains the cliffs of the Clarno Palisades along with two trails that wind through the plains. The unit contains scenic drives, that allows visitors to stop and gaze at intriguing geological features and the Hancock Field Station. There are several programs in the areas of geology, paleontology, and ecology that are available through the Hancock Field Station. The Painted Hills Unit provides various trails, picnic areas, and an overlook that features hummocks and hills. Rock layers in the colors of black, bronze, pink, red, and tan can be viewed from the Painted Hills Overlook. The three trails in the unit are called the Caroll Rim Trail, Painted Cove Trail, and the Leaf Hill Trail. All trails are relatively short and a variety of animal and plant fossils can be found on each. The Sheep Rock Unit is the monument's largest area and is equipped with an overlook, basin, picnic site, river access, and large block called the Cathedral Rock. A Visitors Center is available for tourists who want to visit the John Day Fossil Beds. The center is open daily from the month of March to October and located in the Sheep Rock Unit.

One of the highlights of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are the amount of trails available to tourists. There are over a dozen trails that range in length from a fourth of a mile to three miles long. Many of the trails allow tourists to gain a unparalleled view of the John Day River Valley and the myriad of cliffs and basins that compose the area. The longest trail available at the monument is the Blue Basin Overlook Trail. The trail is a strenuous one that goes on for three miles. At the end of the trail, explorers find themselves at a vista that overlooks the entire John Day River Valley. The elevation gained while traveling on the Blue Basin Overlook Trail is 600 feet.

There is a variety of outdoor recreation available for those who visit John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Some of the recreation includes hiking trails, picnics, camping, nature-watching, and just general exploration of the monument's grounds. Trails and picnic facilities are all open all year. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the best monuments in Oregon for exploration of both fossils and scenic views.