It would depend on what you’re looking to see.

Lots of places around that are a scenic drive, but no real destination. And weather this time of year is iffy at best. 24 degrees this morning. Icy roads around yesterday morning.

The hotel in Mitchell is still open as far as I know. Might be a better option than dragging a camper over.

 

I appreciate that but I'm prepared and expecting icy conditions. We like winter camping. All the fun, none of the people!

 

There is the fossil beds and the visitor center out that way. Kam Wah Chung is pretty good, make sure to call ahead to get the tour scheduled. The Grant County museum is a good on. When we stayed out there a few summers ago we stayed at Clyde Holiday state park.

 

Ditto on weather fc...it was 26 degrees through the wheatfields of Wasco/Condon this morning...a little frosty/slick. I'm not a fan of traveling to EO this time of year unless for hunting lol...even then it can be puckering.

 

Agreed. It's looking cold and clear for the most part. We are prepared for that.

 

Tiger Brewing in Mitchell is a great pit stop.

Bill

 

We always enjoy hiking the Blue Basin unit. There is some BLM camping at Muleshoe on the John Day, kind of a clip from the painted hills unit but all beautiful drives.

 

If the fossil beds/painted hills are your target, either find a campground near Mitchell or drive a little further and stay up in the Ochocos for free.

Beings that I live an hour from there, I’m no help on campgrounds. Sorry.

 

check out Campgrounds - John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

 

Ive never been this time of year. Spring is when I usually head over.

Condon struck me as a cool little town. Going to get out and walk around next time instead of just passing through.

A must do activity for kids, that I still enjoy as an adult, is digging for fossils next to the high school track in Fossil.

Watch Wild Wild Country before you go and then visit Antelope.

Beautiful country out there.

 

Last time we were in Mitchell, their city park had a couple RV hookups. Should be very quiet this time of year. I think you call city hall to reserve a space. From there you can walk to anything in town. Painted hills is just down the road

 

please post PIcs upon return. Be safe and have fun #jealous.

 

Depends what you're trying to do/where you're coming from. Typically painted hills and John day fossil beds takes about a day to check out, mostly because of drive time.

if you're coming up 206 from I84 and have a couple nights to blow, I suggest....

FILL YOUR GAS TANK IN BIGGS!!

For lunch, either the Indian food cart in Biggs (it's amazing) or The Dirty Cowgirl in Wasco.

Stay the night at Cottonwood Canyon State Park. $10/night, first come-first served this time of year. Right on the John Day River. AMAZING star gazing, good chance to see bighorn sheep, plenty of hiking. Hot showers year round.

From there, you'll hit Condon. Great little town. Fill your tank again here, it'll be miles before the next gas opportunity. The drive in has good food. Two boys market is a good stop if you need groceries.

Swing into Fossil, Oregon just up the road (it's on your way) stop at the high school, at the back of the football field is public fossil digging. Pretty easy to find plant fossils. Never really see people there, but a cool opportunity. The mercantile is a pretty cool building too.

Skip the Clarno Nut Beds. It's out of your way and not worth the stop.

Next town is Spray not much to see.

From there, you'll hit the Blue Basin unit of the Fossil beds. Check out the interpretive center first. Amazing center that will walk you through the history of the region with examples of fossils. Really nice bathrooms too.

You'll then want to backtrack a couple miles to the blue basin hike. Do the lower hike, couple miles. Impressive. You walk through a turquoise canyon of clay. It's just...super cool.

there's a couple hikes in the area, might as well do them.

from there you have a decision to make. Go an hour to John Day, check out the town, kamwahchung (very cool interp center centering around the Chinese influences during the gold rush) and can stay at Clyde Holiday State Park, or go the other way and hit the Painted Hills. If you go to John day, stop in If you hit Painted Hills, stop in at Mitchel and go to Tiger Town Brewing. Good food and drink. Painted hills has a few hikes to do, but not a huge time suck.

From there it's a stay locally. Unfortunately I'm a bit at a loss for recommendations overnight that way.

heading home, head through the ochocos to Prineville, then wherever from there.

Keep in mind the roads are getting icy, check the weather before you go. Services are few and far between and cell service is spotty at best. Come prepared. With the short days this time of year, you can easily fill 3 days.

 

Awesome! Thank you for taking the time. It's much appreciated!

 

Off the top of my head…. I think there is a state campground somewhat nearby.
There is a cool museum in the area showing long ago history of the area. (As in dinosaurs)
Pretty area, enjoy!

 

Yeah wife and I did this fun trip. Stayed in Fossil the first night and Mitchell the second night, both towns had fun restaurants and entertainment at night. It looks like they have RV parking where we stayed in Fossil, just google RV parking Fossil. If you want more solitude you could travel further and hit the national forests around the area.

 

I've camped in Clyde Holliday, nice place even though its close to the main road.

 

Plenty of dispersed BLM camping between Mitchel and Priest Hole.

 

There is a campgroung west of Mitchell, Ochoco Divide forest service campground. Also a campground at Service Creek, as well as one just east of it, Muleshoe campground. We've stayed there in a camper when well below freezing, great fun. They're all within easy range of Painted Hills and the fossil beds, plus great scenery.

 

We had an awesome trip. Saw lots of beautiful country and went on several hikes. We had lunch at the suggested restaurant in Mitchell and watched the Civil War at a (the) bar in Fossil. All were great so thanks for the recommendations.

 

The only bad part of the trip.....

 

Sometimes I enjoy the drive through the canyon more than the hills.

Now we need to know the story on the truck.

 

I've had another thread going in the hunting forum regarding my truck drama for a couple of months. It broke down in early archery season and stranded my camper in the woods in Heppner.
The fuel pump went bad the first time and screwed up my injectors. GM covered the entire repair but it took a month and a half for parts. DeathRoe from ifish graciously saved me and brought the camper home before the snow hit.

This time I was rolling out of Condon on the way down to Biggs Junction and heard a loud boom. I thought I blew a tire, but the truck started running very rough and had zero power. I stopped and found the intake for the turbo had blown off and tore up a bunch of wires. I limped it down to Biggs Junction at 5-8 mph on the shoulder of the road. $1400 tow later it's back at the GM dealer in PDX and I'm waiting to hear.

 

SHJ, Thanks for reporting back and posting the photo's!

Hope the truck is OK. Nice camper too!