Operating Hours & Seasons

Visitors hiking along the Painted Cove trail in the Painted Hills Unit.

The outdoor areas, trails, and overlooks at all three units: Sheep Rock, Painted Hills, and Clarno units, are open at all times. The only visitor center at the park is located within the Sheep Rock Unit.

Sheep Rock

Thomas Condon Paleontology Center is the best place for fossils. Starting May 16th, the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center is open 10 am to 4 pm and closed on Mondays.

Cant Ranch Historic Home & Museum

The Cant Ranch Historic Home & Museum is closed.
The outdoor areas, trails, and overlooks are open at all times.

As the National Park Service monitors and responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, we work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health to use the latest science to guide our decision making. Access to John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is as follows:

Open: Thomas Condon Paleontology Center museum and movie theater, all outdoor areas

Closed: Cant Ranch Historic Home & Museum

While the listed areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, services may be limited. The CDC has offered guidance to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health. Find more information about the National Park Service's response and operations at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.