Grant County, OR

The picnic area for the Sheep Rock Unit, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is located on the east side of Oregon Highway 19 about 9 miles north of the junction with US Highway 26 at Picture Gorge. Drive the paved road uphill to a small parking area with several picnic tables under trees, several vault toilets and drinking fountain with water faucet. This is a nice spot to rest or grab a snack while driving this section of the John Day River.

The Flood of Fire Trail (0.25 miles long climbs the ridgeline to the north with views west over the John Day River Valley and north to the basalt cliffs that overtop the interesting ash formations nearby. The Story in Stone Trail (0.25 miles long) ventures east from the parking lot, staying mostly at the same elevation. This latter trail is wheelchair accessible, but with some difficulty. Both trails have interpretive signage to help describe the areas interesting geologic history. Both trails have interesting native floras, with the latter having plants that are associated with more alkaline conditions like greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus), papery freckled milkvetch (Astragalus lentigenosus var. chartaceus) and spiny saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia). Floral highlights along the Flood of Fire Trail include: pallid milkweed (Asclepias cryptoceras), threadstalk milkvetch (Astragalus filipes), woolly-pod milkvetch (Astragalus purshii var. glareosus), sagebrush mariposa (Calochortus macrocarpus var. macrocarpus), desert paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa), purple sage (Salvia dorii) and sticky cinquefoil (Potentilla glandulosa var. campanulata). There is also a nice stand of 'desert' grasses in the country around the picnic area.

Map of trails in the Sheep Rock Unit.

June 16, 2010: Sheep Rock Picnic Area

May 28, 2007: Sheep Rock Unit Picnic Area and Blue Basin

Partial Flora for the Sheep Rock Unit: Flood of Fire Trail, Story in Stone Trail, Picnic Area