Carroll Rim Summit [Suggest Edits]

Description

The summit of Carroll Rim offers the best views of the John Day Fossil Beds Painted Hills unit and the surrounding areas. From here, you can see all of the major painted hill features in the park, including Red Scar Hill, Painted Cove, and the Painted Hills Overlook area. You can see Leaf Hill, where significant fossil finds have occurred over the years. A couple of farms lie just outside of the park boundary, and depending on the time of year you may see cattle, hay baling, and irrigation systems at work. It reminds the hiker of what the area could have become if it wasn't protected. On clear days, you can see snow on the surrounding mountains if you visit in the late fall or winter. It really gives you a great view of how diverse the landscape in the area is. It's definitely the best hike in the monument and this summit has some of the best views.

Short Hike: The summit of Carroll Rim can be accessed by hiking up the Carroll Rim Trail roughly .7 miles from the Bear Gulch Road. There is a small parking lot at the entrance to the Painted Hills Overlook area, and more parking available up at the Painted Hills Overlook.

Family Friendly: The trail is neither steep nor long, so kids can make the trip fairly easily. The views from the top are amazing, and visitors can see the whole area easily.

Gem Type: Viewpoint