Welcome to the age of mammals! It's where brontotheres (rhino-like mammals), three-toed horses, nimravid (saber-toothed cat-like), and bear dogs once roamed. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument has well-preserved layers of fossil mammals and plants, all of which lived in the area around 45 million years ago during the late Eocene epoch, and about five million years ago during the Miocene epoch.
Oregon is a land of contrast. There are shimmering lakes, towering mountain peaks, the long-distance Oregon Trail, and the rugged Pacific coastline. All these are painted on the state's landscape, with John Day Fossil Beds tucked away in an isolated region in eastern Oregon.
Arguably Oregon's most overlooked national park site, John Day Fossil Beds is still worth visiting in 2025, and it's easy to see why. Designated as a U.S. National Natural Landmark, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument has a team of paleontologists that regularly conducts field work, particularly within the John Day Basin, to uncover many more fossil sites hiding in plain sight.
Boasting three different units, the national monument is where you can discover surreal and awe-inspiring landscapes, with colorful badlands, riparian areas, and semidesert shrublands. Here's why John Day Fossil Beds National Monument warrants a visit.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is known for its well-preserved fossilized animals and plants. The park spans three different geographical units scattered across the rugged terrain in the John Day River basin of eastern Oregon. This is why you can't visit the park in just one day, because of the units' distances in eastern Oregon, making it a little difficult for casual visitors.
But John Day Fossil Beds competes with Crater Lake National Park, known for being home to the bluest lake in the world, which draws more tourists. Unlike any other famous national park sites, John Day Fossil Beds has a subtle beauty and silently gleams as if it's deep in time among embedded fossils, badlands, and vibrant hills.
It's not a tourist magnet, but it's a mecca for paleontologists and researchers due to its scientific and consistent fossil record of about 40 million years. It has limited facilities and services, and no camping areas within its 14,000 acres of diverse landscape.
The national monument was named for the John Day River, which in turn was named after a man named John Day. According to legend, Day traveled with a group to Oregon and attempted to establish a fur trading post at the mouth of the Columbia River. He camped on the Mah-hah River, which would become the John Day River, and was robbed by the Native Americans, but was saved by the French-Canadian trappers. Day eventually settled here and became a prominent figure in the area.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument's immersive journey through time, amazing geology, and paleontology is worth visiting in 2025, although it remains unfamiliar to some. But for travelers willing to undertake the off-the-beaten-path, the national monument is as inviting as any other flashier parks in the U.S.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Has Three Geographical Units
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument might be underrated, but it is pure magic! The national monument features three different geographical units: the Painted Hills, Clarno, and Sheep Rock, all of which are unique and are separated by many miles, which requires between one and two hours to drive. But all these three units reveal millions of years of awe-inspiring fossil finds that span through ancient time.
The discovery at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument uncovers what Oregon was like 50 million years ago, including footprints of prehistoric birds, lizards, invertebrates, and mammals. Now it makes us wonder: What if these ancient animals were at the top of our food chain? Regardless, it's amazing to think about how these fossils help researchers learn what life was like back in ancient times.
These three separate and distinct units of John Day Fossil Beds prove that ancient times are incredibly interesting and tell an extraordinary story of the environment that existed in the late Eocene and Miocene epochs.
Visiting any part of the park will offer a glimpse of an ancient world. But be warned: Collecting fossils at John Day Fossil Beds is prohibited.
The Best Time To Visit John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
For a perfect balance of pleasant weather, gorgeous scenery, and fewer crowds, consider visiting in the spring and fall. While John Day Fossil Beds National Monument doesn't get too much footfall, it feels more remote in the spring and fall, which offer more solitude than in the summer.
Springtime, from April to June, boasts vibrant wildflower blooms, which thrive in the monument's rugged conditions and poor soil. At this time, the Painted Hills are more vibrant after the rains. In the fall, between September and October, the weather is cooler, with some wildflowers and beautiful fall colors. This is also the best time for photography.
If you ever visit in the summer, note that the temperatures can spike up to 90°F or higher, and the park has limited shade. But you can start early in the morning to avoid the scorching heat or late in the afternoon. Wintertime is icy cold, although the units, particularly the Painted Hills, are still sights to behold. But the trails and paths can be snowy and muddy.
The grounds and trails at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument remain open when the visitor center is closed. The outdoor areas of the Historic Cant Ranch are open year-round, 24 hours a day. Always check the park's website for updates before you visit.
Underrated, but worth visiting this year, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is a unique experience from ancient times. It is as timeless as the fossils found in the area, a veer off the beaten path that tells us how awe-inspiring life was millions of years ago.
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