Good to know
- Tickets
- Free to visit, with no entry fee.
- Time needed
- A full day to see two units; two days for all three.
- Best time
- April to June and September to October. Summer is hot; the Painted Hills colors look best after rain.
- Getting there
- Kimberly is near the Sheep Rock unit. Redmond Municipal Airport is about 1.5 hours from the Painted Hills and about 2.5 hours from Sheep Rock.
Where to stay nearby
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John Day Fossil Beds National Monument questions
Can you walk on the Painted Hills?
No. Stay on the boardwalks and trails. Footprints damage the soft clay hills and last for years.
Which unit of John Day Fossil Beds is best?
The Painted Hills is the most photographed, while Sheep Rock has the museum and fossil lab. Clarno is smaller and best if you have extra time.
How far are the Painted Hills from Bend?
About 1.5 hours by car, making it an easy day trip from Bend.
