Beginning of July we went on a road trip to John Day Fossil Monument, OR. We stayed in a small town called John Day few miles east of the monument. From Seattle, we drove to Kennewick in Eastern Washington and then drove south from there. The drive from Kennewick to John day was an undulating terrain with multiple mountains and prairies. The monument is in the middle of nowhere.
The monument is divided into three geographically separate units spread across a vast area. Plant and animal fossils found here date back to 44 million years to the 'age of the mammals'. The Sheep Rock Unit has a paleontology center with fossils on display. I am amazed at the number of fossils that has been found here. This is probably the first time I have seen animal, plant fossils and so many geologically variant rock formations in the place it really happened and not in some museum.
We managed to cover all three units in one day. The Park Trail map that you can get in the paleontology center, illustrates the different trails in each unit. We explored 2 or 3 in each of them. There were interpretive signs on some and some looked like work is in progress. It is a good idea to pack lunch as there are not much options to eat once you leave John Day.
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| Sheep Rock Unit |
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| Clarno Unit |
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| Clarno Unit The painted hills unit was beautiful and its geology fascinating. |
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| Painted Hills Unit |
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| Painted Hills Unit |
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| Painted Hills Unit |
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| Painted Hills Unit |
You can find more information about this place here. The next day we made our way back to WA - stopped at Mt Hood for a quick photo op and drove along the imposing Columbia River.
I want to visit Dinosaur National Park one summer soon.
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