← Oregon guide · National Monument
John Day & Painted Hills · A day that begins with one good stop.
See your first dayWhy this place matters
Large rhino-like brontotheres roam a semitropical forest. Dog-sized, three-toed horses dart between the trees.
Read the full NPS story ↗
A flexible first day
These are ways to explore, not a timed itinerary. Check conditions before you set out.
Start with a Painted Hills viewpoint or visitor center.
Follow the different units as separate destinations, not one quick stop.
Distances between units and exposed summer heat affect the day.
Find your bearings
Switch stops to see where this chapter sits in the wider state.
Outline: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic boundary files. Points show guide starting areas and NOAA stations.
NOAA 1991–2020 · monthly normals
These stations show two parts of the state; neither is a forecast or necessarily local to this site.
No monthly snowfall normal is published for this station. Choose the other station to compare snow.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 41.9 | 44.1 | 48.3 | 52.8 | 59.4 | 64.2 | 70.2 | 70.6 | 65.4 | 55.6 | 47.1 | 41.6 |
Normal = 1991–2020 average at the named NOAA station. Snowfall is new snow over a month, not snow currently on the ground. A blank NOAA snow series is shown as unavailable, never as zero. See current NOAA snow depth ↗
Weather changes the trip
Distances between units and exposed summer heat affect the day. The graph above uses a named NOAA station; conditions at this place may differ with elevation and weather. Check the local NWS forecast ↗
Keep exploring Oregon
Add a Portland food or arts day, or a small-town stop near Bend and the Columbia River. See current events ↗
Make the trip yours
Tell WTDO your dates, where you start and how you travel. The first plan is free.
Plan this trip free