Malheur Butte, Photo by Jeffrey L. Torretta
• Venture into a land once inhabited by saber-toothed tigers and pig-like oreodonts! The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (541-987-2333) preserves some of the richest fossil beds in the world. Colored layers of rock record significant changes in climate, vegetation, and animal life through the last 50 million years. Travel west on Hwy. 26 and then 2 miles north on Hwy. 19 to visit exhibits within the National Monument headquarters at the Cant Ranch. Here, meet the ancient mammals that roamed this region when the climate was tropical and the creatures rivaled Star Wars for strangeness. Wear hiking boots; several nearby trails offer outstanding views and interpretation. Your appetite worked up, lunch is served back down Hwy. 26 at the little town of Dayville.
* Favorite Chow: Order up a milk shake made from real ice cream!
• Enjoy the drive back to John Day following the beautiful John Day River. This is cattle country; grass and alfalfa hay fields and ranch homes dating back to the late 1800s are scattered along the route. A nice side trip is the Strawberry Mountain Scenic Route (541-575-0547), where wildlife viewing is commonplace. Keep your fishing pole handy.
