Hikers Guide to the Paleo Lands
Wheeler County and the John Day Basin are wonderful places to hike on public lands. We have a limited number of developed trails, but offer extraordinary back-country experiences in the BLM and US Forest Service Wilderness areas. They include: Sutton Mountain WSA, Spring basin WSA and Pat’s Cabin WSA on BLM, and the Bridge Creek Wilderness in the Ochoco National Forest. The Pine Creek Ranch south of Fossil is an un-roaded, 30,000 acre preserve owned by the Warm Springs Tribes. Vehicles, horses, and bicycles are banned, but you are welcome to hike this rugged and remote wild country.
Hiking into Blue Basin
Some well-marked, but short trails in the Blue Basin, Foree Area, Painted Hills, and Carroll Rim lead you on short hikes in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
Our Hiker’s Guide to the PaleoLands is in preparation. Please look for it here in March, 2007.
Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy your adventures here. Please call or email us if you would like suggestions regarding where to go and what to see, or would like a custom hike plan.
For directions and hiking suggestions, you may also contact the following federal agencies (John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, National Park Service, Ochoco National Forest, , or Prineville District BLM for specific recommendations about hikes. For a list of regional campgrounds, download our Camping in the John Day Basin (pdf).
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument: 32651 Highway 19, Kimberly, OR 97848-9701 Visitor Information/Sheep Rock Unit 541-987-2333, Painted Hills Unit 541-462-3961; Clarno Unit; 541-763-2203 http://www.nps.gov/joda/
USFS: Deschutes-Ochoco National Forest, Prineville Office : 3160 N.E. 3rd Street Prineville, OR 97754. (541) 416-6500.
Bureau of Land Management, Prineville Regional Office: 3050 N.E. 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754 (541) 416-6700 email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
