Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway |
The Best of Oregon Riding
Bicycling Oregon's Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway offers the opportunity to see millions of years of history revealed in the layers of mountains of earth, one color at a time. The hills get their name from the delicately colored stratifications in the soil of yellows, golds, blacks, and reds with Mars-like pillars formed by waterfalls and volcanic sludge. A closer look reveals ancient plant and wood fossils. The links to the left provide detailed cues to ride the full route. See "Trip Planning Resources" in the Route Details below for GPS files for each of the segments of the route shown on the map downloadable from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Oregon Scenic Bikeways are a superb collection of cycling routes that inspire people to experience Oregon's natural beauty and cultural heritage by bicycle, and that offer economic and social benefits to the state's communities and residents. The program is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Downloadable map and cue sheet for the Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway.
GPS files for the following segments of the Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway:
Visit RideOregonRide for videos and photos, guide and shuttle companies, cycling events, attractions, lodging, Bike Friendly business locations, and more.
Find more to see and do near this Bikeway at Eastern Oregon Visitor Association.
The Painted Hills are one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon. See one – or better yet, see them all.
Information about road conditions from Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck.
The Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway connects all parts of multi-colored John Day Fossil Beds, which hold the world’s best fossil record of the Age of Mammals (last 50 million years) and exhibit a dramatic record of past climate change. The bikeway features a hub and spoke design that offers a series of rides and loops, which easily connect to adjacent counties for longer tours on mostly low traffic roads.
Family and touring Cyclists will enjoy all or part of easy Highway 19 along the John Day River from Spray or Service Creek to Kimberly and on along the Old West Scenic Bikeway to the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center (43 miles one-way) via the Old West Scenic Bikeway.
Family cyclists will enjoy US 26/Bridge Creek Rd. from Mitchell into the dazzling Painted Hills and lofty Sutton Mt., or Hwy 19 south from Fossil to comfy, forested Bear Hollow Park. Adventure Cyclists will want to try the loop from Service Creek on Hwy 207, up twisty Donnelley Grade, to the ghost town of Richmond, then circle back via Girds Cr. Canyon, Twickenham, and Shelton Wayside County Park.
Out and back from Fossil to Clarno Palisades in the National Monument will also appeal to Adventure Cyclists. (33 miles) Water stops are limited to towns, except for three Hwy 19 parks between Fossil and Service Creek, and Painted Hills picnic area.
Scenic Bikeway routes often include roads with car and truck traffic. Although the Bikeways are routed on low-traffic and low-speed roads whenever possible, most are designated for cyclists who are comfortable riding in some amount of traffic.