Sheep Rock at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

The Sheep Rock Unit, or just Sheep Rock, is one of 3 parts of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Two other units are Painted Hills and Clarno.

This is the largest part of the park with the most things to do and places to see.

Here, you will encounter unique landscapes with blue hills, mountains with layers of colorful rocks, a volcanic canyon with a rushing river, and other breathtaking landscapes.

Formation and Geology

There has yet to be a consensus on how long ago this area was formed, with an estimated range between 7 and 32 million years ago. However, this is the most geologically and paleontologically diverse part of John Day.

To this day, fascinating geology with many non-fossil and fossil rocks provides scientists with plenty of material to study and explore.

The landscape here periodically changes because of elements and erosion, bringing new fossils to light.

The oldest found non-fossil rocks are dated 95 million years old, while fossilized plants and animals here go as far as 33 million years ago.

You can see plenty of those pieces are on display in Sheep Rock's paleontology center.

Thomas Condon Paleontology Center

The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center doubles as a visitor's center and a fossil museum.

Here, you can see unique fossils discovered from local digs. Check out a series of dioramas and displays telling the geological and biological history of the area.

The museum also shows short films explaining the area's prehistory and current scientific research and discovery.

The Cant Ranch House

This is a 1917 ranch house made into a museum. It showcases the life of people on the ranch and in the surrounding area 100 years ago. The bunkhouse and log cabin next to the museum have fossil displays.

The shaded tree area near the ranch house is perfect for picnics. Also, the nearby trail will lead you to the John Day River.

Sheep Rock

Sheep Rock is a 6,847 ft (2,087 m) high summit and a landmark of the area. It consists of two separate layers of basalt contrasting with each other.

This formation was named after the bighorn sheep, which used to populate the rocky landscape.

Cathedral Rock

This is an ancient pyroclastic lava flow and ash formation. The landslide removed some of the top rock, revealing softer blue and yellow material inside.

Such a unique color is created by celadonite and clinoptilolite.

Blue Basin

Blue Basin is a blue-green, heavily eroded rocky badland devoid of vegetation.

The rock formations consist of blue-green and tan claystone and siltstones, creating unique colors. You can encounter a palette of shades from mint green to a darker, bluer green.

Blue Basin has one of the highest fossil deposits, including long-extinct species like saber-toothed tigers.

Mascall Formation

The 150 ft (50 m) viewpoint provides spectacular views of the John Day River Valley and Picture Gorge.

Picture Gorge

This is a scenic canyon where John Day River flows past 1,500-foot (457 m) high lava formations toward the Columbia River.

Foree Picnic Area

This picnic area has tremendous views and two hiking trails to explore green mudstone with basalt lava flows.

Hiking

Sheep Rock Unit has a lot of trails all through its territory.

The Thomas Condon Overlook Trail is a 0.25-mile (0.4 km ) out-and-back path. It starts and ends at the parking lot of Thomas Condon Paleontology Center.

The River Trail is a 0.6-mile (0.96 km) gravel out-and-back path from the museum parking lot to the John Day River.

The Sheep Rock Overlook Trail is a 0.25-mile (0.4 km) out-and-back hike. It starts from the main gate of The Cant Ranch House and leads to the river.

Blue Basin Area

Island in Time Trail is a 1.3-mile (2 km) gravel out-and-back trail taking you through Blue Basin.

Blue Basin Overlook Trail is a 3.25-mile (5.2 km) out-and-back hike with spectacular John Day River Valley views. The pathway can become impassable in wet and rainy weather. Altitude change along the route exceeds 600 feet (183 m).

Foree Picnic Area

Flood of Fire Trail is a 0.4 mile (0.64 km) gravel out-and-back path leading to a viewpoint of the John Day River Valley and colorful hills.

The Story in Stone Trail is a short out-and-back 0.3 miles (0.48 km) trail along the base of the Turtle Cove formation with its blue-green claystone rocks.

Rockhounding

The area is full of fossil and non-fossil rocks.

However, collecting fossils is generally prohibited.

There are recreational rockhounding beds in the town of Fossil and at Mt. Vernon, where you can legally find interesting rocks for your collection.

Camping is prohibited anywhere at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. However, the surrounding area has multiple campgrounds, such as Bingham Springs Campground, Burnt Ranch Campground, and Antelope RV Park.

The small community of Dayville is the closest place to Sheep Rock with accommodations.

Kimberly, 17 miles north, and Mitchell, 32 miles west, are a bit farther but have more places to stay.

Alternatively, you can get a hotel in Prineville, 80 miles away. It is farther than the other towns but has the most extensive hotel selection in the area.

Lodging in Prineville

Affordable Vacation Rentals Near John Day Fossil Beds National Monument