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Phones out of order
The visitor center phone line is not working reliably. If you are unable to get through to the staff during business hours, click the More link to email visitor services and a ranger will contact you as soon as possible. More »
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Changes to Visitor Service Due to Sequestration
Due to mandatory, across-the-board budget cuts, some visitor services in this park have changed. Please check the Plan Your Visit section for more information. More »
Active Science & Spectacular Scenery
Colorful rock formations at John Day Fossil Beds preserve a world class record of plant and animal evolution, changing climate, and past ecosystems that span over 40 million years. Exhibits and a working lab at the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center as well as scenic drives and hikes at all three units allow visitors to explore the prehistoric past of Oregon and see science in action.
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Clarno Unit
Forty million years ago, Clarno was a lush rainforest. Remnants of this distant past can still be seen in this much drier place.
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Painted Hills Unit
Home to a multitude of plant fossils, the Painted Hill Unit is best known for its colorful geology.
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Sheep Rock Unit
The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, in the shadow of Sheep Rock, is the best place to see fossils from all three units of the monument.
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Did You Know?
The Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are made of heavily eroded volcanic ash layers.