Best Things to do in Painted Hills Oregon: Ultimate Guide

Imagine this…

You’ve discovered some of the best things to do in Painted Hills, Oregon and now you’re exploring and decide to go hiking in Oregon’s Painted Hills.

You get out of the car, and all around are swirls of yellows, golds, blacks and terracotta reds layered in the hills of the vast, dry, barren landscape.

Then you start to wonder how you somehow ended up on Mars.

Or you wonder if you accidentally drove all the way to Arizona or Utah.

That’s exactly why hiking is one of the best things to do in Painted Hills Oregon.

If you’re reading this blog because you’re wondering, “are Oregon’s Painted Hills worth visiting?” well, I’m about to answer that question for you, and you can decide for yourself!

But I must say, you absolutely need to add Oregon’s Painted Hills to your Oregon road trip itinerary!

About Painted Hills, Oregon

One of the 7 Wonders of Oregon, the Painted Hills, is worth visiting in my personal experience and opinion.

Something really cool about Oregon’s Painted Hills is that the layers of colours are millions of years of history as a visual! Isn’t that so cool?

And by millions of years… they were formed 35 million years ago. That’s wild!

Each colour is from a different time. It’s like looking at history in colours!

The Painted Hills of Oregon are literally hills painted with several stunning colours, which is how they got their name. 

The hills are stratified layers of warm hues of yellow, gold, orange, terracotta, red and darker colours like black and purple. The colours can be more vibrant later in the day as the golden light from the sun hits them from a different angle, or even more so after rainfall.

Best Things to do in Painted Hills, Oregon: Hiking

If you are wondering, “can you hike at Oregon’s Painted Hills?” then the answer to that question is a yes!

You might also ask, “can you hike on the hills?” You definitely shouldn’t, and there are signs everywhere asking you to stay on the trail.

Don’t be one of those who walk on the hills and ruin the picturesque history.

As I mentioned, you can hike in Oregon’s Painted hills. There are several stunning trails there, and I will go into detail about each one!

One of the best things to do in Painted Hills Oregon is hiking. It’s an incredible experience that makes you feel like you’ve landed on Mars. Here are the Painted Hills, Oregon hiking trails and all you need to know about them!

Leaf Fossil Trail

This is a short 0.4-kilometre loop trail and a very easy hike! 

Leaf Fossil Trail is a super cute hike (yes, I said cute) with some desert-like vegetation along the trail. This trail probably had the most vegetation out of all the Painted Hills’ Hikes.

This short trail takes around 10 minutes to complete but could take longer if you’re taking your time. The path is made up of rock, and there are a few small boardwalk paths to walk over some areas.

It’s not a spectacular or out-of-this-world hike, but since it’s so short and pretty, it’s worth doing.

The trail gets its name because thousands of fossils have been excavated from around this area. Just know that collecting fossils is prohibited, and you must leave them where you’ve found them.

Paleontologists have been excavating and studying the area around this trail for years. There are signs along the trail that teach you about the history surrounding the Leaf Fossil Trail.

Red Scar Knoll Trail

This is a very easy short trail that is only 0.4-kilometres long. The road signs call it Red Hill Trail, and the trail quite literally takes you to a red hill.

This trial is a primarily flat dirt path that takes you for a stroll through the desert-like landscape.

Since it’s such a short hike, there’s not too much to say about it. Again, it’s worth it since it won’t take you long to do, and the hill’s colour of red is spectacular!

Painted Hills Overlook Trail

This trail is my 2nd favourite hiking trail in the Painted Hills. It is also a super short trail, only 0.8-kilometres, and is also extremely easy.

It takes you up on an incline, and the path is super easy to follow.

The views from the “top,” and I say it like that because the elevation gain is very little, are absolutely stunning. You can really see the colours swirling in layers through the hills of the landscape.

The view gets even prettier, the colours more vibrant later in the afternoon as the sun starts to get lower, and even more so towards sunset.

This trail definitely tops the previous two trails, in my opinion. If you are hiking in Painted Hills, Oregon, make this one of the hikes!

Painted Cove Trail

This is the Instagram-worthy photo spot that everyone posts pictures of and definitely the most popular hike in Painted Hills, Oregon.

The Painted Cove Trail is yet another easy, 0.4-kilometre hike that takes you along a stunning boardwalk through the red-painted hills.

Something to note is that these hills don’t go on for very long. You’re walking for about 2 minutes before the boardwalk ends, and the red hills end with it. Then the rest of the hike is similar to the last two hikes.

You can walk up to the top lookout that showcases a view of the red hills and boardwalk down below, as well as the surrounding landscapes, which is a super picturesque view.

Then you can continue down the path that loops around the cluster of hills and continues as a dirt path.

If you can only do one trail in Painted Hills, make it this one! It really is spectacular.

I’m not going to lie; I had extremely high expectations when going here and expected these red hills to just roll across the landscape. But as I mentioned, you walk for 2 minutes, and there are like 3 red hills before the red ends. 

So try not to be disappointed like I was when I got there and realized the red didn’t go on for miles.

I will say, though, that this is not only one of the best things to do in Painted Hills Oregon, but it is the best!

Carroll Rim Trail

This is the only trail in Painted Hills, Oregon that I didn’t hike. Carroll Rim trail is the longest hike in Painted Hills. It’s still only 2.6 kilometres, with an elevation gain of 120 metres.

It takes you to an incredible panorama view of Oregon’s Painted Hills. I’ve heard awesome things about this hike and will definitely be doing it on my next trip there.

Save this post for when you start planning your trip to Oregon!

Some of the Other Best Things to do in Painted Hills Oregon

Take Your Dog for a Walk

Dogs are permitted in Painted Hills but must be on a leash and always on the trail. Try to avoid taking your pups on super hot days so they don’t get sick.

Some of the hikes are super short, so it might be more worthwhile taking your pup down the longer trail, Carroll Rim Trail.

Stargazing / Astrophotography

Since Oregon’s Painted Hills are pretty remote, that means less light pollution and a heck of a lot more stars to brighten the sky!

Stargazing on a clear night would be perfect, and you would get a magical view of the milky way. You can even try out some astrophotography while you’re there.

Just be weary at night since that’s when the creepy crawlies like to make their appearance. Keep an eye out for those black widows, scorpions and rattlesnakes.

Photography – Get that Instagram Shot

You can also just do some regular photography during the day. Sunrise, late afternoon, and evenings during the sunset are the best times to get good photos here.

That’s when the colours tend to pop a lot more. And let’s be honest – sunrise and sunset always make a landscape look more magical.

Want that Instagram shot? Head over to Painted Cove Trail and walk the boardwalk. That’s where the most Insta-worthy shot in the Painted Hills is taken!

Keep an Eye Out for Fossils

I mentioned earlier that thousands of fossils have been excavated from around this area. Keep an eye out for them but also remember that collecting fossils is prohibited, and you must leave them where you’ve found them.

Paleontologists have been excavating and studying the area around this trail for years. Even though you can’t take them, wouldn’t it be cool to actually spot one?

Learn About the History

You will find signs about the park and its natural history all around the Painted Hills hiking trails. Stop and take a moment to read them. You’ll learn some really interesting things that might just blow your mind!

Where are Oregon’s Painted Hills? How Do I Get There?

Closest to Oregon’s Painted Hills is a small town in eastern Oregon called Mitchell; it’s only 9 miles away.

Bend, Oregon is the closest larger city and driving from Bend to Painted Hills is still a two-hour drive. Take Highway 97 North and then turn onto Highway 26 towards Mitchell once you see the signs. You’ll drive through Ochoco National Forest for roughly an hour before you start to see signs that will direct you to Painted Hills. You will turn left on Burnt Ranch Road, and you will arrive at your destination within minutes.

Oregon’s Painted Hills is about a five-hour drive from Portland, Oregon. You can take Highway 25 and eventually turn down Burnt Ridge Road. After a bit, you will see signs leading you to the Painted Hills.

Once you arrive in the Painted Hills, the road turns gravel completely. Just take it slow as you drive down these roads, and you’ll be just fine.

Best Time to Visit Painted Hills, Oregon

Winter would be the worst time to go since there will be a blanket of snow covering the beautiful warm hues of the landscape.

Summer gets extremely hot; take it from me. We went at the end of August, and it was around 35 degrees celsius in the evening! It was nearly unbearable, and there is no coverage for shade anywhere in the Painted Hills.

In the Spring, wildflowers often bloom all around the area, which can be super pretty. But Fall is probably the best time of year to go since it rains more, making the colours more vibrant, and it’s also not as scorching hot as Summer is.

Although, as long as there is no snow, you will surely be amazed by the beautiful colours of the Painted Hills.

How Long Do You Spend at Painted Hills, Oregon?

You honestly don’t need much time at all to explore Oregon’s Painted Hills. Most of the trails are super short, and even the longest trail only takes roughly an hour to complete.

So realistically, you could probably do all the trails and be in and out of the area within 3 hours. Unless you’re like me and my friend, Andrea. We love photography, so we spent hours upon hours just taking photos of the landscape and each other.

Of course, you can spend as much time as you want here, but you can definitely make it a quick trip and get all the trails done in one day!

It’s a perfect stop to add to your Oregon road trip itinerary!

Why are the Painted Hills in Oregon red?

The Painted Hills in Oregon were formed around 35 million freaking years ago! Isn’t that wild?

The coloured layers of the Painted Hills can tell geologists what was happening during the time that layer was formed. Geologists determine this with stratigraphy, which is the study of rock layers to determine the relationship to a geological time scale.

Volcanic eruptions from the past caused volcanic ash layers to form over a looooong time. We’re talking millions of years.

The red and orange/yellow soil layers in the Painted hills were formed by minerals that were in the ash and laterite soils. Red – created in humid climates, and yellows in drier climates.

In the layers, you can also see black layers. These layers were formed from vegetation that grew along the floodplain during those periods.

As for the layers of grey soil that are present, those layers you can see in the hills came from siltstone, shale and mudstone.

The black soil that streaks through the hills was formed from vegetation that grew in the floodplain, and gray colours come from shale, siltstone, and mudstone.

Where to Stay Near Painted Hills, Oregon

If you’re heading to Painted Hills, Oregon, you are heading somewhere fairly remote. The closest options are to grab a campsite nearby or to stay in Mitchell, Oregon. Mitchell does have some accommodations, but it’s limited.

Of course, there are other options for where to stay, but it will be a further drive. I stayed in Prineville and did an afternoon trip out to Painted Hills until sunset (because that’s the photographer’s life).

You can always stay in Bend as well. For some of you, a two-hour drive might seem super long, but it’s nothing for someone like me who is from Canada.

Painted Hills Oregon Camping

I haven’t personally camped here, but there are a number of campgrounds near Painted Hills. Some are free, and some are paid.

Mitchell City Park: roughly a 30-minute drive south of Painted Hills. There are RV sites, water, electricity, restrooms etc., and it’s about $25 per night.

Priest Hole: this one is free. If you’re staying there, be prepared and have absolutely everything you need. 

Burnt Ranch Beach: it is about 11 miles from the Painted Hills and is also free. Again, go prepared with absolutely everything you need.

Those are just a few that I’ve heard are pretty good, but there are several more options that you can check out! I just don’t want to recommend anything I have no experience with!

Tips to Know Before You Go

Bring lots of water! Especially if you are travelling there in the Summer months. It is so hot, and I didn’t see anywhere to fill up your bottles. Although I have heard there is a fountain near the park entrance where the restrooms are; I haven’t confirmed it.

There are restrooms at the park’s entrance, but that is the only place you will find them. If you need to use the bathroom, you’ll have to head over there.

Staying on the trails at all times is super important to help preserve the natural history and beauty of the landscape. Unfortunately, many people tend to break this rule and disrespect our beautiful planet by doing so. If you go off trail, you can do unrepairable damage to a beautiful landscape that took millions of years to form.

Leave no trace. Take out what you bring in, and leave what was already there. Unless you find trash. Pick it up and help clean the area! There are fossils that you may be lucky to find, but please leave them where you’ve found them. As mentioned previously, it is prohibited to take them from the area.

You can find all kinds of deadly critters here, like scorpions, black widows and rattlesnakes. So keep your eyes peeled and watch where you step!

Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times and are welcome on the trails! Yay!

Earlier I mentioned that there is no coverage, so on those hot Summer days, it would be wise for you to lather yourself in sunscreen and wear a hat so you don’t get heat stroke.

If you’re expecting the super Instagrammable spot with the boardwalk through the red hills to be endless and vast, forget about it. That one shot sure makes you expect that, but beyond that shot, the red is all gone!

Wrap-Up – The Best Things to do in Painted Hills Oregon

So is Oregon’s Painted Hills Worth Visiting?

So, is Oregon’s Painted Hills worth visiting? Also-fricken-lutely!

Do I think you should go hiking in Painted Hills, Oregon? Oh, heck ya!

Should you go all the way to Oregon just for that? Nah.

If you’re heading to Oregon, it’s definitely worth adding to your Oregon road trip itinerary. You can make it a weekend trip from Oregon or take a day trip out from Bend.

As I mentioned earlier, you can definitely do all of the hikes within 3 hours, so it wouldn’t really take all that much time out of your trip. It’s also nice because you can see it all and not worry that you may have chosen the wrong hike and missed out on a spectacular view!

Just be sure to add it to your Oregon bucket list if you do end up heading out to Oregon.

If you are heading to Oregon, you’ll definitely want to hit up the Oregon Coast for a road trip. It’s absolutely beautiful there.

Thank you for stopping by, and happy adventuring ♡

Krista x.

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