What To See And Do In The Area

The Area

The John Day Basin, also known as “Paleolands,” is a magnificent area to explore. Many of Paleolands attractions are hidden and require time for visitors to discover them. For example, there are three national monuments in the John Day Basin alone. Service Creek is perfectly situated in the middle of all three of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monuments.

The Painted Hills Unit is located in Mitchell (approximately 45 minutes away) and offers visitors spectacular views of what appears to nature’s canvas where dramatic reds, oranges and yellows are painted on a tapestry of time and is especially impressive after a rainstorm.

The Clarno Unit is another spectacular display of rock formations that are remnants of old volcanoes. Here, scientists actively study the formations that offer insight into the earth’s history and provide a detailed fossil records of creatures and plants that once inhabited the earth. This location is located in between Fossil and Clarno and is approximately 45 minutes away from Service Creek.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Sheep Rock Unit located past Kimberly (approximately 45 minutes away from Service Creek). This location offers visitors to experience a paleontologist’s view in a working fossil field center. See what scientists have uncovered in the from the surrounding hillsides of the John Day Basin. What you see will amaze you.

In addition to the nation monuments, visitors will experience the natural beauty and wonder of the land before time. Vivid rock formations that are blue, green, red and orange can be found all throughout the region. Depending on the weather and daylight, you may see some and miss others. These rocks are temperamental and reveal themselves to those who are patient.

The John Day River offers many a reprieve from the a hot summer sun. This river breathes life into this region and provides visitors with a way to comfortably relax and enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle of day to day life. Whether enjoying a picnic lunch with family, experiencing the remote canyons of Paleolands, or fishing for small mouth bass, one will find his or her inner zen.

Find time. Give yourself more than a day to experience what Paleolands has to offer. Allow yourself time to relax and see the landscapes that have captivated and inspired travelers from all eras.

Due to the population, Wheeler County has been classified as “frontier.” That means, we do not have enough people to be considered rural! There are many places in the nation where you will be hard pressed to find a similar classification, but that is truly what makes this area so unique - the remoteness. Cell phones do not work in many areas of the John Day Basin, therefore, visitors should take a little more extra time and care when coming out here. Most feel like they are literally stepping back in time, and experiencing what it must have been like for settlers of the area. Some things to take into consideration include:

Inform others of your plans to visit the John Day Basin area. Let them know where you are staying and how to get a hold of you in case there is an emergency.

Be aware that medical services are very limited here. If advanced medical care is needed, Air-Life helicopter services will be required. Many insurance companies do not cover this type of event. Therefore, Service Creek offers Travel Insurance which does include emergency medical provisions in the event of an Air-Life emergency. For more information, please see the Travel Guard section of this site.

Many gas stations close early and may not be open on on holidays. Plan ahead and make sure that you have enough gas to get you where you need to go.

Area History

Henry H. Wheeler of Erie County, Pennsylvania, crossed the plains to California in 1857. In 1862 he moved to The Dalles. Gold had been discovered on Canyon Creek in 1862 and people were flocking there by the hundreds. Food and supplies were carried in on pack animals and later by freight wagons. The route passed near the site of Antelope, through Burnt Ranch and Mitchell and on to Canyon City. An express was established in 1864. This same year, Henry Wheeler began a stage line from The Dalles, Oregon to Canyon City. On his first trip he carried 11 passengers and 11 on his return trip at $40 each way. The line made three round trips each week. Each stage was drawn by four hourses and there wree eight changes on the 180 mile trip. Early in 1865 Wheeler took a mail contract at $12,000 per year for four years.

The stage and passengers were frequently plundered by Indians and highwaymen. On September 7, 1866, when near Mitchell, Indians robbed the stage but filed to carry away $10,000 in greenbacks. Mr. Wheeler was shot in the jaw and mouth with broken pieces of a stove lid, yet and his lone passenger escaped on the leading horses. He was taken 100 miles to a doctor and lived to old age. --- A History of Fossil by H.S. Goddard, M.D., early day physician.

Wheeler sold his stage line in 1868 and eventually settled near Mitchell. Wheeler County was named in his honor.

Source: http://www.wheelercounty-oregon.com/history.html

Fossil Hunting

Go hunting for for fossils in Fossil, Oregon! The Fossil Beds at Wheeler High School, are a perfect place where you can collect fossils in a safe location with a knowledgeable interpreter to help you understand and identify your finds. The fossil beds are open to the public in late spring and close on October 31 for the winter. Admission cost is $3.00 per person and goes toward helping fund science, educational and art programs in the John Day Basin rural school system. Larger group discount rates are available with advanced reservations. For more information, please contact Oregon Paleolands Institute at 541-763-4480 or go to www.paleola nds.org.

While in Fossil, Oregon, we highly encourage you to swing by the Paleolands Adventure Center where you will find a collection of science, nature and kids books, a gallery featuring local artisan’s work, information about area attractions and fresh, organic coffee. Here you will get the gear you need to go out and explore the John Day Basin and learn more about the area sites and attractions.

Visit the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Thomas Condon Paleontology Center located approximately 40 miles from Service Creek. This state of the art center features incredible exhibits that include fossils collected from the John Day Basin. This spectacular center serves as a great visual reference for what this area once looked like and what creatures roamed the earth. As of now, there is no admission fee, but a donation is strongly encouraged to keep this gem up and operational. For more information and hours of operation, go to http://www.nps.gov/joda/.

From Oregon Paleolands Institute:

The rules about collecting--and not collecting:
While the John Day Fossil Beds are a world-renowned fossil locality, they are now part of a National Monument, and also part of the National Park system. COLLECTING FOSSILS OR ROCKS (or anything else) is prohibited on the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument without a permit--permits are granted only for research purposes. All collecting is also prohibited on the Pine Creek Ranch, Warm Springs Tribal lands. Collect VERTEBRATE fossils on other federal or state lands is prohibited without a permit. You may, however, collect PLANT FOSSILS and INVERTEBRATE (mollusks, worms, ammonites, trace fossils, etc.) FOSSILS on Federal BLM and U.S. Forest Services lands without a permit.
If you are going to look for fossils or rocks on your own, please check with local BLM and USFS field offices for up-to-date collecting information before you head out. And also please be sure you are in public lands for hiking and collecting.

Trip Planner

The Adventurer - Day Trip
Drive to the Thomas Condon Center located outside of Kimberly. Visit the Cant Ranch across the road from The Thomas Condon Center. Drive to Blue Basin. Do easy (1 mile) or advanced hike (3 miles). Visit the Kimberly orchards. Picnic or snack at Shady Grove just past Spray (towards Kimberly). Join us for dinner. Enjoy your favorite beverage on the deck. Wave at cars.

Painted Hills Getaway - Half to Full Day Trip
Drive to the Painted Hills. Walk 1/4 mile trails. Picnic/swim at Priest Hole.

Rimrocks and River Drive - Two Hour Trip
Enjoy a nice drive by going to Rowe Creek and on through to Twickenham and back to Service Creek. Pack a picnic and eat down by the river to make it a longer trip.

Meet the Neighbors Loop - One Hour Trip
Enjoy a nice drive by going to Winlock Lane and making a loop drive back through Alder Creek and back to Service Creek.

Fossil Fest - Day Trip
Go to Fossil to visit Fossil Museum. Dig for fossils at the Fossil High School. Visit the Paleland Gift Shop and Gallery. Drive to the Clarno Unit to see remnants of ancient volcanoes. Hike in the national monument.

Scenic Road and River Tour - Day Trip
Take a 1/2 day float and drive (Route 3 or 4) in the late afternoon / early evening.

River Tour - Day Trip
Get out and explore the John Day Basin via raft. River tours are the perfect way to experience the majestic beauty and remoteness of the basin.

Hunting for the Past - Day Trip
Take picture with Sasquatch in Spray. Pictogram hunt in Picture Gorge. Travel to Mitchell on Hwy 19 and visit the Painted Hills. Return via Donnelly Grade.

Ghost Town Tour - Half Day Trip
Ghost Town. Visit Richmond, then go to Twickenham back to Service Creek. Make it a full day trip by packing a picnic and swimming down at the river in Twickenham.

Fishing & Picnic Adventure - Half/Full Day Trip
Enjoy fishing on the wild and scenic John Day River and enjoy a freshly made picnic lunch from the deli at Service Creek.

Shopping the Frontier - Full Day Trip
Shopping Old West Style by visiting local shops in Fossil, Condon, Mitchell and Spray.

R&R - Half/Full Day
Are you just plain beat? Catch up on that much needed rest and relaxation by reading on the wrap around porch of the lodge. Massage? No problem. Our local massage therapist can help. Just let the staff know and we’ll set up an appointment (space is limited).

Photography Tour - Half/Full Day
Get your camera ready to take some unbelievable shots at the Painted Hills, Blue Basin Clarno Palicades. The beautiful colors of the Paleolands landscape are all around us and can best be seen after a rainstorm.

Personalized PaleoTour - Half/Full Day Trip
Undecided on where to go, or simply want to learn more about the area? Schedule a personalized Tour with Paleolands. Link to website with calendar of events.

Rafting Adventure - Multi Day Trip
Design your own personalized rafting adventure. Work with Service Creek to design your trip, rent your gear and shuttle your vehicles for the ultimate, unforgettable multi-day rafting adventure trip. For more information, please visit the Rafting and Shuttles and Rafting Information sections of this site.


Pampered Rafting Weekend - Multi Day Trip
Enjoy rafting in style. Let Service Creek help you design the perfect day trips to get out and experience the river. Later, return to a clean room, hot meal and old west hospitality that you deserve. The next day, take off to raft another section of the river.

Golf Adventure - Half/Full Day Trip
Golf at the renowned Kinzua Golf Course located just outside of Fossil. This golf course has six holes, making it fun for golfers of all experience levels.

Bicycle Tour - Full/Half Day Trip
Get out and explore by pedaling your way through Paleolands. Oregon Paleolands Institute (OPLI) has put together a comprehensive book outlining the best roads to explore the John Day Basin. You may purchase this book at Service Creek for $5.00 or at OPLI.

Motorcycle Tour - Full Day Trip
Get out and ride! Explore the John Day Basin in your leathers. These roads are becoming more and more well known throughout motorcycle groups across the nation. Service Creek offers free motorcycle maps of the area.