Eastern Oregon

I’ve debated whether how I should title this blog spot. Recently, my friend and I took a trip to explore the Southwest. There are many ways to drive down to Utah but a familiar route would be driving through Eastern Oregon before entering Idaho and then making our way down to Utah. Eastern Oregon has similar landscapes as Eastern Washington - it’s mostly dry and considered to be a high desert. Unfortunately, we didn’t spend too much time exploring Eastern Oregon aside from spending a night camping on a sheep farm in Lexington, Oregon and eventually visiting one of the seven wonders of Oregon - the Painted Hills.

First Stop: Camping with the Sheep

I’ve known about Hipcamp for a while but I’ve never actually booked a campsite using the app before. But since this was considered a last minute trip (I usually like to book campsites at least 2 months in advance. And sometimes, it requires even further advanced planning for more popular sites). I also wanted to find more unique experiences and made sure we had a place to shower. Prior to the trip, I am not too familiar with eastern Oregon so I did a quick search on Hipcamp and found this cute little camp in Lexington.

The space was beautiful. You’re basically camping amongst the iconic hills that define the landscapes of Eastern Oregon while being surrounded by flowers and some small bushes. What added more to the experience was there were bunch of sheep on the farm. Unfortunately, we arrived fairly late during the day, the patch where you share directly with the sheep was already taken. Nonetheless, the camp host did recommend driving a few miles further down for another spot. The spot further down the road offered a lot of solitude and we were also situated a few few from a creek (which made getting water a whole lot easier!). While there were hills surrounding us, they weren’t mountains. We got a clear view of the sky and made stargazing at night a wonderful experience as well.

There was a shower and privy located near the barn. We opted to pack up camp and drive back out as I wanted to spend more time exploring the farm and bid farewell to the sheep.

Link to the Hipcamp if you’re interested in booking a future stay.

Second Stop: The Painted Hills

The next morning, we broke down camp and packed up the car and headed towards the Painted Hills. This has been on my bucket list for a while but I never found the opportunity to visit it until this time. I’ve driven past Eastern Oregon several times but never made a point to spend time to explore this area. What makes this area interesting too is as you travel down this side of Oregon before entering Idaho, the road takes you along the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway. I feel like a lot of people tend to associate Oregon with its lush forests, the coast, and the iconic Mount Hood. You see none of that type of landscape here. Instead, you will drive through nonstop hills and desert-looking landscapes.

The Painted Hills unit is one of the three units under the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. We had a long drive to Twin Falls, Idaho so we only stopped by at one of the units. The hills are known as the Painted Hills due to the colors of the soils which render in different shades of yellows, golds, black, and reds. According to the official website, they are best seen in the late afternoon. Of course, we were there right in the middle of the day. What sets this apart from Death Valley (although they also share many similarities) is that you are still able to see the different tones of the stratified soils even during the middle of the day. However, the claystones that form the Painted Hills do change color according to different light and moisture levels. We did two easy hikes as outlined on the park brochure - 1) The Painted Hills Overlook Trail and the 2) The Painted Hills Cove Trail. The latter is what you see from most posts on Instagram. It comprises a boardwalk for the first 0.5 miles until you hike gradually up the hill to get a better view of the hills. The former is where you can get a 360 degree view of the surrounding areas of the Painted Hills. It’s hard to believe that you’re in fact in Oregon because the landscapes do feel a little odd and Mars-like.

If you had more time to visit Eastern Oregon, it is highly recommended to visit the Clarno Unit and the Sheep Rock Unit. Both units offer various activities including hiking and camping. Apparently, scientists studied 50 million years of plant and animal evolution and collected about 40,000 fossils here. Because you are driving along the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, you will gain knowledge on how the early cousins of elephants and rhinos roamed the earth that you’re currently standing on.

It’s important to plan ahead as there weren’t many towns with amenities along the way. The biggest town we encountered was John Day and that was at least 100 miles from where we camped in Lexington, Oregon. John Day had all the proper amenities and vibes a small town has to offer. Mitchell is where the Painted Hills is located. I remember seeing maybe a gas station and a few restaurants to dine in. But due to COVID-19, it’s always a good idea to plan ahead in case there aren’t many places to stop to use the bathroom or fill up gas. We grabbed a quick lunch at the Outpost Pizza Pub and Grill. The food was surprisingly good and there was also ice cream. The ice cream was definitely a bonus as the temperatures in Eastern Oregon were still extremely high in October.

This was a quick detour for us on the way to Idaho but it was a good spot to stretch your legs as well. The drive was scenic and as you drive over the hills and deserts, you can’t help but to wonder how did people came about to settle down in such harsh conditions?

Other Relevant information:

Pass: America the Beautiful - the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is part of the National Park Service
Closest town: Mitchell, Oregon (limited food and gas options), your better bet would be John Day, Oregon
Cell Service: There was cell service at camp but really nothing on the way from Lexington to John Day
Official Website: https://www.nps.gov/joda/planyourvisit/ptd-hills-unit.htm