Picnic Area & Associated Trails

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

May 23, 2003

The John Day Fossil Beds are an interesting accumulation of geological features to visit. They also feature a variety of plant and bird life for nature lovers. The picnic area depicted here may be reached by proceeding north on Oregon Highway 19 which parallels the the west side of the John Day River past the monument headquarters and several miles later, past the Blue Basin Overlook Trail access road. Eventually you will come to a sign denoting National Monument Picnic Area. Turn right (east) here and proceed uphill for about a half mile. A small parking area provides access to shaded picnic tables, potable water in season, and pit toilets. Two short trails allow visitors to sample the geologic features as well as the flora and fauna. The eastern trail is wheelchair accessible. Self-guided tour pamphlets describe the geology along the trails. These may be found at the start of the eastern trail.

* Denotes wildflowers in bloom on this date.

Plants found around the picnic area and on the Floods of Fire & Story in Stone trails:

Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica- Pods

Slenderbush Buckwheat: Eriogonum microthecum var. microthecum

Broom Buckwheat: Eriogonum vimineum? - Basal leaves only.

Strict Buckwheat: Eriogonum strictum - Bloom in several weeks.

*Saltbrush or Hopsage: Atriplex sp.

*Pale Alyssum: Alyssum alyssoides

*Blue Mustard: Chorispora tenella

*Clasping Pepperweed: Lepidium perfoliatum

*Tumble-mustard: Sisymbrium altissimum

*Gland Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa

*Curvepod Milk-vetch: Astragalus curvicarpus

*Thread-stalk Milk-vetch: Astragalus filipes

*Prairie Lupine: Lupinus lepidus var. aridus

*Filaree: Erodium cicutarium

*White-stemmed Globe-mallow: Sphaeralcea munroana

*White-stemmed Mentzelia: Mentzelia albicaulis

*Contorted-pod Evening-primrose: Oenothera contorta

*Humboldt Milkweed: Asclepias cryptoceras

*Large-flowered Collomia: Collomia grandiflora

*Shy Gilia: Gilia sinuata

*Phlox: Phlox sp. ?

*Variedleaf Phacelia: Phacelia heterophylla

*Line-leaf Phacelia: Phacelia linearis

*Gray Ball Sage: Salvia dorii

*Narrow-leaved Skullcap: Scutellaria angustifolia

*Desert Paintbrush: Castilleja chromosa

*Dalmatian Toad-flax: Linaria dalmatica

*Dwarf Purple Monkey-flower: Mimulus nanus

Cut-leaf Penstemon: Penstemon richardsonii

*Cleavers: Galium aparine

*White Plectritis: Plectritis macrocera -Drying out rapidly.

*Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

*Low Pussytoes: Antennaria dimorpha

*Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza sagittata

*John Day Chaenactis: Chaenactis nevii

Thistles: Cirsium sp. - Almost in bloom

*Shaggy Fleabane: Erigeron pumilus - Beginning bloom.

*Woolly Sunflower: Eriophyllum lanatum

Rock Doves

Meadow Larks

Violet-green Swallows

Dark-eyed Juncos

Mourning Doves

Pheasant

Turkey Vulture

Sierra Nevada Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Mourning Cloak Butterfly