Parking at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is easy. Heading north though the monument on Highway 19 you pass the Blue Basin. Don't worry about hiking it (although it may be great) as you will have nice views shortly. The first real dirt road on the right is Dick Creek. The road is signed as a County Road for 9.5 miles, so the local sign at the first cattle guard is entertaining, Hatfield and McCoy style, although this one is Marsh vs the Feds. They get better. Painted hills, generally missed by the public are on both sides. Some of the area has burned recently. The road climbs steadily. In January, it can be a bit muddy, a rather sticky muddy. The Kelly Ranch signs could be western humor or 1st amendment buffoonery. And the signs are misoriented at the cattle guards, suggesting that you aren't even welcome on the road. Remember, it's a county road and your taxes pay for it. Maybe don't wander into the sage too far for a nature break. It could be that hunters trespass a lot. I don’t know. I did meet Barbara Buce, owner of the Lands End Inn B&B at milepost 5, a delightful welcoming lady. She has bird houses and signs along the way. Otherwise not a single other sould was seen on the route. At 1300 meters elevation you enter a pine forest with a few private homes nestled near each other. Past the homes, the pitch kicks up and the road narrows and gets a bit rougher. At the false apex, Dick Creek road heads downhill to become Frank’s Creek and you can make a loop down to Dayville and then back to the Monument (according to Gaiagps and Barbara). We continued on uphill. As you break out onto Sunflower flat at the cattle guard and the beginning of BLM land, there is one more sign uphill to the left reminding you that if anyone has inconveniently locked the gate, you are welcome to saw the lock off. You now have the opportunity for some flat riding on the mesa before turning around. If you go in January, you may want studs. For a 3 minute video tour: https://youtu.be/hazR64lto-E