The John Day Fossil Beds have three units. The Painted Hills Unit here is 3,132 acres of beautiful eroding claystone. The Painted Hills are nine miles Northwest of Mitchell, Oregon on Hwy 26, about 75 miles east of Bend. There is an exit to the North of the highway, simply follow the signs from there.
You can see the locations of the Painted Hills here at Google Maps.
The colors of the Painted Hills are most vibrant with the lower angle of the sun in the late afternoon. The hills are probably at their best during the wildflower season, which peaks in late April to early May.
