Driving north through the John Day Fossil Beds Sheep Rock Unit, we turned the corner and got sheer glimpses of the Blue Basin, we were in awe. Trying to beat the fading daylight, we turned in the parking lot, fueled our bellies with some homemade salsa and chips, and hit the trail.
The hike through the Blue Basin was full of disbelief that a place like this even existed in Oregon. How have we never heard of the Blue Basin? How is it not as famous as similar places like the Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon? And, how are we so blessed to hit the trail with perfect lighting and experience the Blue Basin in its deepest blue hues?!
At this point, you’re probably wondering what in the world is the Blue Basin in Oregon.. let us backtrack and explain!
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What Is The Blue Basin In Oregon?
The Blue Basin is a part of the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in central Oregon. This is the same national monument that the Painted Hills of Oregon are, though in a different unit.
The Blue Basin has two different trails, heading through and above the Blue Basin. The name for the Blue Basin comes from the blue hues in the clay formed from volcanic ash. And the basin side.. well, that’s cause it’s just a big basin of blue!
It truly is a remarkable area, and photos really don’t do justice to the blue and green colors the Blue Basin reveals!
Island in Time Trail in the Blue Basin
Fast Facts on the Island in Time Trail
Length | 1.3 miles total out and back
Elevation Gain | 200 feet
Difficulty | easy to moderate
Time Required | 40-60 minutes
Location | Sheep Rock Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Fees | free
Parking | limited parking at trailhead, with a few RV spots
Accessibility | no stairs, though uneven trail with roots and multiple steel bridges
Shade | only in the beginning of trail
Dogs | not recommended with metal bridges
Extra Info on Island in Time Trail
The Island in Time Trail takes you into the Blue Basin. The trail is a rather short out and back trail that is all uphill on the way to the center of the basin, and all downhill on the way back. Crossing over multiple metal grate bridges on the trail makes this trail not the best to take with dogs, as their paws wouldn’t handle the bridges well.
Highlights of the Island in Time Trail are the fossil replicas and information boards scattered along the trail. And, the obvious fact of hiking in the actual blue basin!
At the trailhead, there is parking for both cars and RVs, one covered picnic table, pit toilets, and garbage services. This trail should not be done in the extreme heat in the summer as there is not very much shade after you pass the beginning part of the trail.
Our Experience on the Island in Time Trail
When we hiked through the Blue Basin, we were just dumbfounded that this place was in Oregon. It’s a place we’re already trying to sort out spending more time at. And it was a super special hike because we literally had no understanding or expectation of what the hike would be like.
We simply pulled over because we saw snippets of the Blue Basin from the road, and are just amazed at what we saw!
The Blue Basin reminded us of our time hiking through the Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon, though this time, instead of the hoodoos being rust-colored, they are blue!
We find it hard to follow the trillion billion million years ago information boards in places like the Blue Basin. However, also find the images and fossils to be super interesting and just insane! It leaves us wondering what other fossils are hidden within the Blue Basin!
If you’re on the fence about doing this hike, just do it! We weren’t sure how far up the trail we would go with how limited the daylight we had was, but we’re so thankful we made it all the way to the end! The Blue Basin in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is in our opinion one of the most spectacular national monuments in Oregon!
Blue Basin Overlook Trail in the Sheep Rock Unit
Fast Facts on the Blue Basin Overlook Trail
- Length | 3.25 mile loop
- Elevation Gain | 600-800 feet
- Difficulty | moderate to difficult
- Time Required | 1-2 hours
- Location | Sheep Rock Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
- Fees | free
- Parking | limited parking at trailhead, with a few RV spots
- Accessibility | no, only trailhead information accessible
- Shade | very little, plan accordingly
Extra Info on Blue Basin Overlook Trail
We did not have enough daylight to complete this Blue Basin trail, though it appears to be a great hike. As you could guess from the name of the trail, the hike goes up and around the Blue Basin, overlooking the basin from the top. Also offering views of the John Day Valley and John Day River from above!
While we’re sure this trail is great, if you don’t have much time in the area, we suggest doing the Island in Time Trail instead, as the Island in Time trail walks you into and through the Blue Basin instead of giving you views from above.
If you hike the Blue Basin Overlook, be aware of the temperatures and pack extra water. This hike has an area of switchbacks with no shade, and can be very hot when hiking in summer!
Things to do Near The Blue Basin
The Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds has a number of hikes, most of which are rather short, a great visitor’s center, and some perfect places to get into the John Day River.
Visit the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center
The national park service has done what looks like a fantastic job at this visitor’s center. Although, when we visited, the Paleontology Center was only open on the weekends, though take a look online to see if it’s open for your visit.
It seems there is a movie about the national monument and fossils to observe here. At the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, there is one 1/4 mile hike offering views of the valley as well as public restrooms.
Check Out Picture Gorge
Picture Gorge is part of Highway 26, and the Journey Through Time National Scenic Byway. The gorge marks the beginning of the Sheep Rock Unit on the south side. It’s a spectacular short drive with huge cliffs up both sides of the highway
Hike at Foree Trailhead
There are two trails at the Foree Trailhead, and while we skipped the Flood of Fire trail, the Story in Stone trail should not be missed! It’s an area with similar views of the Blue Basin, but you’ll be viewing the blue rock formations from above, on a much shorter trail.
Access the John Day River at Historic Cant Ranch
While the indoor area of the ranch is currently closed, there are a couple of trails and river access at the Historic Cant Ranch that are currently open. There are picnic tables here for you to enjoy a meal overlooking the river and views too!
Places to Stay Near the Blue Basin
AirBnB | AirBnB is a great option for finding a place to stay near the Blue Basin, however, prices are pretty high. With many people offering entire homes for rent on AirBnB, you could have a whole home to yourself. This is a great option for saving money on food and being able to spend more on adventures!
If you’re hoping to stay with a local, don’t worry, AirBnB offers local stays too! What a great way to find out even more about the local area and even other places you may be traveling to!
We recommend using the map version of the search tool. That way you can see where the homes are in relation to the Blue Basin. Lots of homes in this area of Oregon on AirBnB are off-grid homes. What a unique way of living to experience!
Hotel Stays | If staying in someone else’s home doesn’t tickle your fancy, search for hotels in John Day here. There aren’t any hotels very close to the Blue Basin, but about an hour away is John Day, and there are hotels there. It’s not a big town, but it’s the biggest in the area, and you’ll have the best chances for a hotel stay there.
Camping | Camping is a great money saver and memory maker! And honestly, the best way to stay close to the Blue Basin trails. There are many places to stay for free in the area as well as proper campsites around too!
Getting To The Blue Basin in Oregon
Flying | Portland brings in one of the biggest airports on the west coast of the United States. Look for flights from your location to PDX (or Portland, Oregon). This is the search engine we use when booking flights.
Fly into Portland then, head east along the Columbia River Gorge (also a beautiful place), and south down to the Sheep Rock Unit of John Day Fossil Beds. Learn how to get the best prices on flights to Oregon here.
Rental Cars | If you’re not from the area or don’t have your own car, you’ll want to rent a car to get around the Sheep Rock Unit, maybe even plan a proper Oregon road trip! There’s not much public transportation in Oregon, and it’s always nicer to have your own car when visiting a place of such spectacular scenery.
Full disclosure here, you’ll also be in the middle of NOWHERE when visiting the Blue Basin — so you’ll really need your own car!
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, consider renting an RV instead. That way you have your rental car and accommodation all in one booking!
Training | Amtrak trains offer trains right into Downtown Portland. You can then rent a car and drive over to the Blue Basin. They connect larger cities all over the United States. However, fair warning — training in the United States is NOTHING like training in Europe!
More On Things To Do In Oregon
Yes, we truly mean the best places. After cycling the entire Oregon Coast, we’ve got a good idea of the don’t miss viewpoints and best coastal towns to visit!
Both being from Southern Oregon and really spending a lot of time exploring the great outdoors, we’ve got a good list of things to do in Southern Oregon we think you’ll like! We’re including Crater Lake National Park, our favorite swimming holes, and even tips on Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor!
The best is yet to come… the national park and national monuments in Oregon are rich in beauty. With hot springs, more awesome hikes, painted hills, and even caves, Oregon’s national monuments, and parks have a little something for everyone!
Our Oregon page is full of unique things to do in Oregon. Find river access points, hikes, waterfalls, hot springs, and even information on cycling the Oregon Coast here!
Planning a trip to Bend? Wanting to visit Smith Rock State Park? Central Oregon is home to some of Oregon’s finest.. even outside of the winter months when you’ll find snow-covered peaks and snow-filled roads!
Things to do in Northern Oregon | Exploring Outside of Portland
Our Northern Oregon post is just like this one. You get to read and see all the things we recommend in Northern Oregon. Hiking, waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, you name it, it’s there!
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