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A very short hike along the Flood of Fire Trail in the Foree Area of the Sheep Rock Unit within this national monument will lead you to colorful green claystones capped by remnants of basalt floods across the valley.
Located 18 miles west of the small eastern Oregon town of Fossil, the Palisades of the Clarno Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument look like petrified castle battlements but are actually remnants of lahars (volcanic ash and mudflows) that sailed down the flanks of an ancient volcano, mowing down any plant or mammal in the way..
The colorful layers of strata in these painted hills tell of ancient climate changes. The red-maroon soils represent a wet climate that caused the iron minerals in the soil to oxidize, while the yellow-green soils represent a much drier climate with little-to-no iron oxidation. These differences in climate also created different ecosystems millions of years ago in what is now the state of Oregon.
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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
