Ten miles west of Mitchell, off U.S 26 in Eastern Oregon, sits a landmark that truly lives up to its name. From a distance, the soft colors of the Painted Hills blend to form what looks like a painting. Up close, visitors can see the popcorn-like layers that make up the Painted Hills and correspond to different geological eras. The colors were created from oxidized mineral deposits in the heavily eroded volcanic ash layers. The black soil is lignite, the grey is mudstone, siltstone and shale and the red is laterite soil.
There are four trails for visitors to enjoy. The Painted Hills Overlook and Trail provides a stunning view especially at sunset when colors splash across the sky and hills. The Painted Cove Trail provides an up-close look at the claystones that make up the Painted Hills. For a moderate climb, try the 1.5 mile Carroll Rim Trail and be rewarded with fantastic views. The Leaf Hill Trail is only .25 miles but it is where thousands of fossils were found. Hiking on Leaf Hill is prohibited.
Historic James Cant Ranch House
Restaurants are scarce in the Painted Hills area so many visitors pack a picnic and head to the James Cant Ranch House, located approximately 45 minutes East of the Painted Hills. This historic 1917 ranch house was purchased by the National Park Service in the 1970s and renovated. Today the house serves as the park headquarters and museum and tells the story of the area, from the American Indians to the sheep and cattle ranchers. Visitors can explore the original ranch buildings and equipment. There are several picnic tables set up around the beautiful grounds.
Thomas Condon Paleontology Center
Across the street from the James Cant Ranch House is the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center. This National Park Service research facility is dedicated to the study of the John Day Fossil Beds. The building also houses a park visitor center and fossil museum. The lobby has several exhibits as well as large picture windows where visitors can view the working laboratory.
The fossil museum is a fascinating display for people of any age. Hundreds of fossil specimens, spanning 40 million years of the Age of Mammals, are displayed. The displays include large murals depicting plants and animals of that time so that visitors can compare the fossils to pictures of the living specimens.
While these areas are fairly remote, visitors will not be disappointed by the beautiful colors of the Painted Hills, the history of the James Cant Ranch and the hundreds of fossils displayed at the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center. The National Park System web site provides directions and important information.
Caitlin Sessa - After graduating from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism, Caitlin settled into a job at a magazine only to discover that she ...
