CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

Very nice! :thumbup: Were these taken from an airplane?

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

Beautiful pictures.

frankeieio Loc: Bend, Oregon

No. There is a trail that takes you right above them. Here are a couple more perscpectives from that trail:

HDR

RE Loc: California

Oh this is a wonderful photo, very warm!

Kuzano

A fascinating part of the OP's excursion to the Painted Hill is to read about the geology and chemical reactions that form such sights.

I live about 15 miles North of the OP. 2-3 hours East and all these wonderful photo opportunities, which we call Oregons High Desert country.

Two hours West, over the Cascade Mountain range and to the Oregon Coast, with a completely different set of photo ops.

And the Coast from the California Border, to the Washington border North, is so dissimilar and offering quite different scenic sites.

If you live in Central Oregon and don't have the Painted Hills in your portfolio... well, where you been?

Photographed from the Observation Deck the OP mentioned at the head of the trail around to the right, right up to the right end of that ridge you are viewing.

No thunderstealing here, just another take

sunshooter Loc: Coppell, TX (ouside Dallas)

No, you can't. The Painted Hills Unit is located 9 miles northwest of of the town of Mitchell. The entrance is on Burnt Ranch Road, 6 miles north of its junction with Highway 26. You can see the entire Painted Hills area in an hour or two, even if you take the marked trails. Even during mid-day, they're photogenic. The bottom photo is not from the Painted Hills; the outcrop is west of Service Creek Road, just south of the village of Service Creek.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Thanks, Sunshooter, for showing the difference in locations! If you have any more images from Hwy. 218, I'd like to see them.

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

Love the tones in the first shot... Great subject and awesome shots... :)

Like em' all

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Interesting colors. Nice shots. :thumbup: :thumbup:

frankeieio Loc: Bend, Oregon

We arrived at the Painted Hills from the 218 cutting south onto the old Antelope to Prineville stagecoach road and then turning east again at an old junction few miles short of Ashwood, heading right past Horse Heaven Mountain and its abandoned cinnebar mine. This road took us through the Cherry Creek Ranch and BLM land down to the John Day River north of the town of Twickenham. We then made our way on to Burnt Ranch Rd, from the north, roughly following, but not skirting the John Day River till we got to the Painted Hills. The roads were gravel and dirt and I believe, and beyond being principally being an actual stage coach road, generally follow wagon routes as they were first laid out way back when. They were fairly well graded, and in great shape for a mid-winters day. Of course the road beds have been reworked for more modern vehicle travel. We pretty much had the road to ourselves the entire way. The journey looked as follows (as you can see the light was pretty nice, but it was spectacular at sunset...:)

Old Ranch off of former Antelope to Prineville Stagecoach Rd.


Abandoned truck at Horse Heaven Mine


Painted Hill just east of Horse Heaven Mtn.


Abandoed Horse Heaven Cinnebar Mine


Driving through Cherry Creek Ranch


Ponies mugging for the camera ;)


John Day River a few miles north of Priest Hole


Somewhere between the John Day and Burnt Creek Ranch Rd.


Here, the deer and the antelope (and the photographer) play.

mosbenav Loc: NY, NY - now Haifa, Israel

The shots in this thread are mind boggling. I have never seen that part of the country. Didn't even know it existed. I really enjoyed looking at them. Thanks for posting them.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Great share, frankeieio--these images show so many interesting aspects to the route and provide the incentive to work this area into the itinerary. Glad you gave specifics on the roads. I know it's time consuming to add so many images, so thank you--I appreciate it!! :D

frankeieio Loc: Bend, Oregon

From our base, Bend, it was roughly a 200 mile round trip tour, all of it scenic. This trip included rounding a bend to witness a just born calf taking its first steps, I posted that series here on UHH the same day as this as well (cropping off the part of the images that would be interesting to veterinarians..) We lollygagged on the dirt roads, touring in this manner really is an intimate way to visit the countryside. We've done longer trips, of course where time constraints forced us to stick to paved highways and their requisite speeds, but taking the time to tour like this really connects you the memory of the day.
Essentially, in Oregon's outback, every vista presents an opportunity to look back in time, millions of years of time. If one is open to it, the car then becomes an effective time machine. The experience of taking all the wonders in on a beautiful day can be quite satisfying, and a really, really good way to start the New Year... :)

Kingmapix Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I hope you set the brakes!

Kingmapix Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I hope you set the brakes!