Painted Cove Trailhead
From Portland Hikers Field Guide
- Latitude: 44.66069
- Longitude: -120.27815
- Maps: Portland Hikers Maps Google Earth
- Elevation: 1900 feet
- Driving time from Portland: 4 hours
Contents |
Hikes starting here
- Painted Cove Loop Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
Fees and Regulations
- None
Driving Directions
From Portland head east on Highway 26 forever. You'll drive passed Mount Hood, the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Madras and Prineville. Beyond Prineville the road gets more and more scenic as you climb through pine forests to the Ochoco Summit. The highway drops off the east side of the hills, getting drier as it goes.
Finally about 43 miles east of Prineville, there's a sign pointing the way to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds Nastional Monument. Turn left there, on to Burnt Branch Road. Drive 5 1/2 miles and then take a left on Bear Creek Road. Drive about a half mile on Bear Creek Road past the Painted Hills Overlook Trailhead to a sign marking the road to Painted Cove. Turn right on this road and drive another half mile to the signed trailhead on the left.
Other Notes
This area is frequented by artists working in watercolors, oils and pencil. Please keep your road dust to a minimum.