John Day Fossil Beds National Monument – Painted Hills Picnic Area

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OSU Geology Field Station

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Mitchell (Town)

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Painted Cove Trail - Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

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Richmond Sixshooter Road

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Fopiano Reservoir

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Bridge Creek Road

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Waterman Road

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Meyers Canyon

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Gable Creek Road

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Dollarhide Pond

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Parish Creek Road

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Waterman Road

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John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Painted Hills Unit

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Painted Cove (No public access)

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Seasons

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Location

The picnic area is located off Bear Creek Road as you turn off Burnt Creek Road just as you enter the Painted Hills Unit. It offers a nice grassy area with trees and a riparian area along Bridge Creek. There are dense conifers planted as a wind block and fields that offer other habitat.

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Habitat and Birds

Look for Warblers, woodpeckers,  and other mixed flocked birds in the trees. A variety of sparrows can be found here in the riparian area or in the fields. Yellow-breasted Chats may be in along the creek. A Say’s Phoebe pair is usually not far away. This spot also offers opportunities to see raptors in the fields or nearby cliff; Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcon have been spotted from here.

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