Painted Hills Trailhead
From Portland Hikers Field Guide
- Latitude: 44.65211
- Longitude: -120.28017
- Maps: Portland Hikers Maps Google Earth
- Elevation: 1900 feet
- Driving time from Portland: 4 hours
Hikes starting here
- Carroll Rim Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Painted Hills Overlook Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
Fees and Regulations
- None
Driving Directions
From Portland head east on Highway 26 forever. You'll drive passed Mount Hood, the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Madras and Prineville. Beyond Prineville the road get's more and more scenic as you climb through pine forests to the Ochoco Summit. The highway drops off the east side of the hills, getting drier as it goes.
Finally about 43 miles east of Prineville, there's a sign pointing the way to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds Nastional Monument. Turn left there, on to Burnt Branch Road. Drive 5 1/2 miles and then take a left on Bear Creek Road. Drive about one mile on Bear Creek Road to a short access road on the left to the Painted Hills Trailhead.
The Painted Hills Overlook Trail leaves directly from the shelter. The Carroll Rim Trail starts back on Bear Creek Road directly across from the access road.