fossil beds national monument john day fossil beds national monument national monument grant counties east central oregon located john day river basin managed national_park_service park known preserved layers fossil plants mammals lived region late million years ago late million years ago monument consists geographically separate units units cover total acres semi desert zones colorful people frequented park engage outdoor recreation visit thomas center james ranch historic district arrival euro americans 19th century john day basin frequented people hunted gathered roots region road building valley accessible settlers established farms small towns river tributaries studying fossils region missionary amateur recognized importance known globally parts basin national monument averaging feet elevation monument dry climate temperatures vary summer highs winter lows freezing monument soil types support wide variety flora ranging willow trees near river grasses fans rocks higher elevations fauna include species resident migratory birds large mammals like smaller animals frequent units populated wide variety reptiles fish butterflies creatures adapted particular mountainous semi desert terrain geography john day fossil beds national monument consists widely separated units john day river basin east central oregon located rugged terrain counties grant park units characterized hills deep eroded fossil bearing rock formations west lies cascade range south east elevations acre park range feet westernmost units consists acres located miles west fossil lies halfway covers acres situated miles northwest mitchell intersects route west mitchell units entirely remaining acres park located upstream unincorporated community unit small extends subdivided picture gorge james ranch historic district separated farms parcels land park park headquarters main visitor center miles northeast bend miles southeast portland highway shortest highway distances unit unit park miles miles miles john day river tributary flows generally west reaching national monument turns sharply north john day river joins main stem downstream river flows generally west downstream unincorporated community generally north enters river north end picture gorge bridge creek passes mitchell north eastern edge meet john day downstream intermittent streams flows south edge unit enters john day upstream unincorporated community history early inhabitants north central oregon included speaking people tribes speakers language hunter competing resources salmon researchers identified sites related interest including rock shelters adjacent john day fossil beds national monument significant prehistoric sites picture gorge consisting panels rock art canyon south end art origin age centuries old john day basin remained largely non natives mid-19th century lewis clark noted explore john day river traveling river named apparently visited confluence columbia working led company explorers fur river later visited river 1840s thousands settlers attracted lure free land began west oregon trail leaving drought worn farms economic problems emigrated states like missouri illinois iowa midwest oregon especially valley western state passage homestead act discovery gold upper basin fraction newcomers abandoned valley favor eastern oregon established villages engaged farming near streams settlement practical supply route gold mines upper valley late 1860s route passed bridge creek south clashes natives non natives desire region euro americans led gradual removal native residents reservations including north central oregon company soldiers sent protect mining camps raids discovered fossils region south basin leaders captain collected fossils missionary pastor amateur lived recognizing scientific importance fossils accompanied soldiers traveling region discovered rich fossil beds bridge creek near trips area public lectures reports finds led wide interest fossil beds scientists yale accompanied trip region work led appointment oregon state international fame fossil beds specimens beds sent museums worldwide articles books published john day half 20th century scientists continued work fossil beds including discovered near remote arid john day basin near fossil beds slow attract thought built cabin river officer began grazing sheep homestead claim general area son floyd later lived family accompanied fossil hunts james elizabeth bought acres officer family converted sheep ranch eventually expanded sheep cattle ranch acres led expeditions region encouraged protect area early 1930s state began buy land state parks later national monument established field school young students geology sciences public lands surrounded later congress authorized national_park_service establish national monument president signed authorization state oregon completed land transfer state parks federal government monument officially established october ranch house associated land listed national_register_of_historic_places acre james ranch historic district monument opened ranch house served headquarters units lower floor ranch house opened public features exhibits cultural history region million museum visitor center opened center offerings displays fossils murals depicting life basin times ranging million million years ago views laboratory march installed transmit continuous real time images shows lab center depicts nearby features june work finished new ranger residence makes unit carbon neutral solar panels generate electricity power house ranger electric vehicle loan manufacturer year project ongoing efforts park carbon neutral geology john day fossil beds national monument lies province originated late early cretaceous million years ago northeastern oregon assembled large blocks exotic rock shifted forces western edge north american continent near idaho border beginning era million years ago province uplifting pushed higher forces pacific_ocean shoreline near idaho shifted west volcanic million years ago deposited accompanied debris flows atop older rocks western province containing fragments debris flows plants animals caught paths remnants ancient flows comprise rock formations exposed preserved beds fossils tropical subtropical nuts fruits roots branches seeds contains bones palm leaves longer inches trees subtropical plants million years ago climate warmer 21st century large mammals inhabited region million years ago included like predators eroded remnants size visible near monument example near mitchell subsided replaced million years ago west general vicinity cascade range john day called emitted large volumes ash dust settled john day basin earlier debris flows rapid deposition ash preserved remains plants animals living region ash debris fell varied climatic volcanic conditions accumulated extending early million years ago sediment layers fossil beds vary chemical composition color laid strata younger consist distinct groups layers contains red ash exposed painted hills unit layer mainly green clay green layer buff colored layers fossils found john day strata include wide variety plants species mammals including dogs cats toothed tigers horses unit contain fossils turtles large pigs plant species strata deciduous trees notable plant fossils dawn genus thought gone extinct worldwide discovered alive china early 20th century period erosion series lava northeastern oregon southeastern washington western idaho inundated province liquid middle million years ago separate flows contributing identified largest involved cubic miles lava prominent formations monument picture rests john day strata subsequent late contributed layers stream deposited volcanic laid atop picture preserved fossils animals horses bears deer cats dogs fauna monument open woodland savannah million years ago fossils oak maple trees reflect area cool climate time period major eruption occurred late million years ago resulting formation lies capped fossils ancestors dogs lions bears horses time teeth found recently near earliest record beaver north_america beaver teeth million years old scheduled display center monument contains extensive deposits preserved fossils periods spanning million years taken fossils present unusually detailed view plants animals late addition analysis john day fossils contributed study earth past climates study evolution monument find describe location collect fossil bearing rocks sites laboratory visitor center fossils stabilized separated rock matrix cleaned fossil specimens stored climate controlled available research addition preparing fossils coordinate monument basic research scientific areas manage fossil museum visitor center climate average precipitation limited rain shadow effects cascade range varies inches year winter precipitation arrives snow weather data city mitchell near painted hills unit july august months average high average low january month highs average lows average highest recorded temperature mitchell lowest generally month precipitation averages inches biology flora soil types support wide variety flora monument soils stem past present activity ongoing additions organic matter life forms near surface adapted particular soil types surface conditions plant communities range vegetation near river fans plants rocky high elevation important communities black crust erosion stores water nitrogen plants crust composed algae fungi bacteria areas monument little flora volcanic lack essential nutrients support plants likewise hard rock surfaces steep slopes soils wash blow away tend remain bare native grasses thrive parts monument despite competition western invasive species park include basin idaho indian native grasses form parts monument include species reed grass forms stream banks limited need water trees found near monument streams springs bushes shrubs like mountain found places moisture collects near rock long rooted adapted survive dry areas shrubs properties include purple sage western extensive root systems thrive dry climate absence periodic fires tend displace grasses create relatively barren landscapes considering controlled burning limit create open areas roots fire bloom mainly spring early summer include golden bee plant dwarf purple monkey flower lily painted hills unit yellow indian commonly seen sheep rock units fauna birds animals seen monument included species observed red tailed hawks american great common great blue nest park summer flocks cranes pass overhead year migratory flights california mourning common seen near ranch visitor center include yellow western american visitors trails encounter canyon mountain mountain black billed birds large animals frequent park include deer beaver found near river bats park mammals predators hunt smaller animals rabbits mice found park covered hills tailed inhabit caves monument rock formations sheep wiped region early 20th century reintroduced habitats monument support populations snakes southern western fence common live include short common western snakes western yellow frequent canyon bottoms shy usually flee seen springs park contain isolated populations western american pacific tree frogs long survey monument found species butterflies common orange great monarch monument insects completely john day river passes longest tributary columbia river dams mouth migratory fish travel degree salmon pass monument way upstream spawning beds pacific_ocean species observed include able tolerate warm summer river temperatures northern bass october june water cooler trout species park removed replaced irrigation river fish movement restoring vegetation black trees shade water summer provide habitat aquatic insects activities entrance park visitor center museums exhibits free trails picnic sites units open daylight hours year round food lodging fuel available park camping allowed hours operation ranch cultural museum vary open day federal holidays winter season veterans day november presidents day february amenities include fossil museum theater education classroom drinking cell phone pay telephone service monument water picnic areas shut colder months trails ranging length feet miles trails quarter mile miles long cross parts separate quarter mile trails begin parking lot face trails signs history geology fossils region trails story stone painted hills unit accessible wheelchair visitors asked stay trails bare rock avoid damage fossils fragile soils ranger led events monument historically included indoor outdoor talks minute orientation film ranch walking tours astronomy programs painted hills unit events free require reservations specific times activities available rangers monument students teachers offers programs monument fossil kits materials classroom use pets allowed developed areas hiking trails restrained horses allowed hiking trails picnic areas bare rock undeveloped areas monument digging disturbing collecting park natural resources including fossils prohibited fossil theft ongoing problem mountain allowed monument land east trails fishing legal monument lands john day river oregon fishing license john day river popular favored runs begin downstream pass monument risks monument visitors include extremely hot summer temperatures winter roads species species poisonous spiders poison ivy
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument