Are you planning on taking a road trip this summer?
Are you planning on taking a road trip this summer? Who isn’t right? Why not visit the John Day Fossil Beds? After Coronavirus, there’s no doubt that most people will be eager to hit the road as soon as possible, and with perfect weather, there’s no better time to take a road trip in Oregon than right now.
One of the best places that you should visit at least once or twice is the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
This destination is located about 10 miles from the town of Mitchell, Oregon, and it’s easily distinguishable because the hills have beautiful colors, which include orange, red, tan, and black.
That John Day Fossil Beds are by far one of the most popular destinations in Oregon, especially among artists, because artists love to come here for inspiration every single year.
Besides having beautiful colors, you should also come here to view the leaf fossils and inspect the Rocks which contain animal fossils from at least 30 million years ago.
If you have kids, the John Day Fossil Beds is by far one of the best day trips that any family can take because it’s going to be something that will spark imagination and keep your children’s brains working while they are on break from school.
How to Plan for Your Trip To the John Day Fossil Beds
One of the most important things to be aware of on your trip to the John Day Fossil Beds is that this destination is unlike other places in Oregon because of the simple fact that no water is available, so you’re going to have to bring plenty of water and supplies for yourself including other members of your group if you decide to bring people with you.
What’s cool about this place is that there are five different trails for you to choose from which range in length short up to 1 and 1/2 miles in period so if you’re the type of person who loves to hike, or ride a mountain bike, there’s going to be plenty of places for you to explore.
If you want to come here just to get inspired, there are also plenty of shaded picnic areas for you to choose from. Just make sure that you clean up your mess following your picnic and don’t leave anything behind that might potentially endanger the natural habitat.
When to Visit
As we mentioned earlier in this article, now is the perfect time to visit the John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon, especially since warm summer days mean that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to view the Painted Hills in all their Glory.
If your goal is to come here to take pictures, one of the best times to visit is in the late afternoon because this is often when the Painted Hills are at their most majestic, so it’s best to plan your trip accordingly if your goal is to leave with some great pictures.
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