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Trip Report

Painted Hills - John Day Fossil Bed — Tuesday, Jun. 21, 2022

Flowers hugging the drainage

Stats

  • Duration: 2-1/2 hours
  • Distance: ~4 miles noodling on 4 distinct trails
  • Vertical: 600 ft
  • Weather: sunny, 80s, light wind
  • Trail: excellent condition; well-signed and lots of parking; watch for snakes
  • Takeaway: A magical landscape of "painted hills" (mineral deposits) with blooming flowers and a variety of hikes (see attached trail map)

This hike is ~2 hours southeast of the Goldendale Gorge crossing east of The Dalles, with a beautiful drive through north central Oregon via the "Journey in Time" scenic route. The adjacent town of Mitchell is a a kick - a small historic town with a brewery at the center of time that was good for a beer and a bite. Great day :)

If I were a balsamroot this late in the season, I would want to be infront of a special background too :)
Views up the Painted Hills Overlook Trail
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