Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Ritner
Large rhino-like brontotheres roam a semitropical forest.
Weather now29°F Clear
Dog-sized, three-toed horses dart between the trees. The cat-like nimravid and bear dogs stalk their prey.
The climate cools and forests alter to dryer grasslands. Saber tooth cats and camels get replaced by mountain lions and deer.
Paleontologists learn more about the ancient animals and environment with every new fossil they discover.
There is currently no water available at the Clarno Unit of the park. Please plan accordingly and bring water when visiting.
19 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
Layers of Life: Stories of Ancient Oregon
Learn more about Layers of Life: Stories of Ancient Oregon on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)Showing 1 of 1
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Find visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Visitor Center
Enjoy the exhibits on the ground floor of the Historic Cant Ranch Museum located in the Sheep Rock Unit. It features artifacts from some of the Native Americans who…
32651 HWY 19, Kimberly, OR Directions
Facility
Located in the Sheep Rock Unit, the Thomas Condon Visitor Center is a National Park Service research facility containing an outstanding paleontology lab dedicated to the…
Kimberly, OR (541) 987-2333 Directions
Open 24 hours, daily · Outdoor Recreation Areas
All outdoor recreation opportunities in the park are open daily, including all overlooks and hiking trails at the park’s three units: Sheep Rock, Painted Hills, and Clarno.
No entrance fees listed.
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Updated 5 hr ago
Weather conditions at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are highly variable in this semi-arid desert landscape. Summer highs can climb into the 110's. Winters tend to be fairly mild, with occassional snow and ice and lows occasionally dipping into the single digits.
John Day Fossil Beds encompasses 14,000 acres in three geographically separated units in Oregon: Sheep Rock Unit, Painted Hills Unit, and Clarno Unit. The Sheep Rock Unit is located between the towns of Dayville and Kimberly.
The Painted Hills Unit is located 9 miles northwest of of the town of Mitchell. The Clarno Unit is located on Highway 218 twenty miles west of the town of Fossil.
Mailing address: 32651 Highway 19, Kimberly, OR 97848
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