Hiking

Imagine seeing millions of years of history revealed in the hundreds of layers of earth, alternating yellow, gold, black and red. As one of the three units of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, the Painted Hills owe their name from the vividly colored stratifications resulting from an ancient process of ash-covered layers of decomposed vegetation, which was then sandwiched by additional organic matter. Over time, this cycle of deposition created a multitude of geological layers, each boasting its own distinct color, from red and orange to black and gray, and even a hint of purple in a few. Fossils of early horses, camels, and rhinoceroses have been unearthed in the Painted Hills, making it a destination for vertebrate paleontologists. Best viewed in the afternoon, the yellows, golds, blacks, and reds of the Painted Hills are mind-blowing when placed within the context of geologic time and the ever-changing environment through the eras. Here is a quick rundown as to the various conditions and mineral