John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, OR: Painted Cove
Explore John Day Fossil Beds' Painted Hills unit on four short hikes, offering both up-close and panoramic views of otherworldly prehistoric volcanic landscapes.
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From the small town of Mitchell, OR, follow signs west, then north, for 9 miles to the John Day Fossil Beds Painted Hills. The many points of interest are found along gravel roads through the area. All four hikes total about three miles; walking the road from point to point instead of driving would add another eight miles. Watch out for rattlesnakes, and consider the temperature – this place gets hot!
Start with the Overlook Trail, a 0.6 mile out-and-back that offers a spectacular view over the colorfully contoured Painted Hills unit. Later day light really illuminates the colors. Near the turnoff for the Overlook Trail, find the Carroll Rim trailhead that hikes 0.8 mile (one-way) up 400′ to a plateau of resistant caprock that rewards with 360º panoramic views over the entire Painted Hills area and John Day River.
Next, follow signs to the Painted Cove and Leaf Hill trails, each 0.25 mile loops. The Painted Cove trail winds around several brilliant red claystone hills, partially on protective boardwalk, then alongside a colorful volcanic ridge. The Leaf Hill trail loops a small hill covered with rock scree displaying a variety of small flora fossils – look closely! A mile from Leaf Hill is an overlook of Red Hill, another brilFrom the small town of Mitchell, OR, follow signs west, then north, for 9 miles to the John Day Fossil Beds Painted Hills. The many points of interest are found along gravel roads through the area. All four hikes total about three miles; walking the road from point to point instead of driving would add another eight miles. Watch out for rattlesnakes, and consider the temperature – this place gets hot!
Start with the Overlook Trail, a 0.6 mile out-and-back that offers a spectacular view over the colorfully contoured Painted Hills unit. Later day light really illuminates the colors. Near the turnoff for the Overlook Trail, find the Carroll Rim trailhead that hikes 0.8 mile (one-way) up 400′ to a plateau of resistant caprock that rewards with 360-degree panoramic views over the entire Painted Hills area and John Day River.
Next, follow signs to the Painted Cove and Leaf Hill trails, each 0.25 mile loops. The Painted Cove trail winds around several brilliant red claystone hills, partially on protective boardwalk, then alongside a colorful volcanic ridge. The Leaf Hill trail loops a small hill covered with rock scree displaying a variety of small flora fossils – look closely! A mile from Leaf Hill is an overlook of Red Hill, another brilliant red claystone hill (no access).
MORE INFO: www.nps.gov/joda/
-Mapped by Eli Boschetto, Bosco Mountain Photo
Trail Facts
- Distance: 2.6
Waypoints
COV001
Location: 44.661988, -120.278784
Trailhead for 0.25 mile Painted Cove loop.
PNT001
Location: 44.649854, -120.26678
Start of the 0.3 mile Overlook Trail.
PNT002
Location: 44.645756, -120.264879
End of the Overlook Trail; nice bench to soak up the view.
PNT003
Location: 44.652116, -120.267259
Trailhead for 0.8 mile Carroll Rim Trail.
PNT004
Location: 44.653977, -120.265757
Viewpoint with small bench.
PNT005
Location: 44.655112, -120.268019
Summit of the Carroll Rim Trail with 360º views.
PNT007
Location: 44.642841, -120.285861
Look for small fossils in the rock scree on the 0.25 mile loop around Leaf Hill.
PNT008
Location: 44.635721, -120.292774
Roadside overlook of Red Hill (no access).
Painted Cove
Location: 44.661988, -120.278744
Trailhead leading to loop around multi-colored volcanic hills and outcrops. © Eli Boschetto
Boardwalk
Location: 44.661518, -120.278808
Raised boardwalk through the Painted Cove. Footprints here last for generations. © Eli Boschetto
Thru the Cove
Location: 44.66083, -120.279138
The color and texture of the Painted Cove hills changes with light and moisture. © Eli Boschetto
Cove Color
Location: 44.661045, -120.279621
Multi-colored hillside at the back of Painted Cove. © Eli Boschetto
Claystone
Location: 44.661852, -120.279262
Close-up of the Mars-like surface color and texture of the Painted Cove hills. © Eli Boschetto
Painted Hills
Location: 44.651246, -120.266476
The colorfully contoured Painted Hills of John Day Fossil Beds. © Eli Boschetto
Light & Color
Location: 44.648078, -120.266476
Late day sun illuminates the colorful Painted Hills. © Eli Boschetto
Painted Overlook
Location: 44.645895, -120.26506
John Day Fossil Beds’ Painted Hills, from the top of the Overlook Trail. © Eli Boschetto
Carroll Rim Trail
Location: 44.652208, -120.266937
The start of the Carroll Rim Trail, ascending 400′ to a volcanic caprock overlook. © Eli Boschetto
Painted Sunset
Location: 44.653909, -120.26566
Sunset on the Painted Hills, from overlook bench on Carroll Rim Trail. © Eli Boschetto
Moonrise
Location: 44.655047, -120.267785
Moon rising over John Day Fossil Beds’ Painted Hills. © Eli Boschetto
Leaf Hill Trail
Location: 44.643163, -120.286329
Evening casts long shadows on the Leaf Hill Trail. © Eli Boschetto
Leaf Hill
Location: 44.642899, -120.287493
Small fossils can be seen in the rock scree on Leaf Hill. © Eli Boschetto
Red Hill
Location: 44.63549, -120.292536
Sunset on Red Hill, in John Day Fossil Beds’ Painted Hills. © Eli Boschetto