Painted Hills 4-29-22

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bobcat
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Painted Hills 4-29-22

Post by bobcat » May 6th, 2022, 9:03 am

We took a somewhat impulsive trip, based on a weather window, to Smith Rock and the Painted Hills at the end of last week, staying in Prineville. At the Painted Hills, we did all five little trails. There were a few other travelers, the place being one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders, but we had the picnic area to ourselves.

On the way back, we hit the wall of rain and spitting snow at Santiam Pass.

Carroll Rim:

On top of the Carroll Rim, Painted Hills.jpg
Common fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii), Carroll Rim, Painted Hills.jpg
Banded hills, Carroll Rim, Painted Hills.jpg
Upland larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum), Carroll Rim, Painted Hills.jpg
View to Bridge Creek and Taylor Ranch, Carroll Rim, Painted Hills.jpg
Bench at end of trail, Carroll Rim, Painted Hills.jpg

Painted Hills Overlook:

Parking and Carroll Rim, Overlook, Painted Hills.jpg
The banded range, Overlook, Painted Hills.jpg
Tolmie's onion (Allium tolmiei), Carroll Rim, Painted Hills.jpg
Golden bee plant (Peritoma platycarpa), Overlook, Painted Hills.jpg
Painted pyramid, Overlook, Painted Hills.jpg
Bee plant, red bands, Sutton Mountain, Overlook, Painted Hills.jpg
The palette below, Overlook, Painted Hills.jpg

Painted Cove:

All red, Painted Cove, Painted Hills.jpg
The cove, Painted Cove, Painted Hills.jpg
Three intense colors, Painted Cove, Painted Hills.jpg

Leaf Hill:

Trailhead, Leaf Hill, Painted Hills.jpg
Shale shards, Leaf Hill, Painted Hills.jpg
Metasequoia impressions, Leaf Hill, Painted Hills.jpg

Red Scar Knoll:

Exposed ignimbrite layer, Red Scar Knoll, Painted Hills.jpg
Looking at the Red Scar Knoll, Painted Hills.jpg
Knoll view, Red Scar Knoll, Painted Hills.jpg
The dry side, Red Scar Knoll, Painted Hills.jpg

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dmthomas49
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Re: Painted Hills 4-29-22

Post by dmthomas49 » May 6th, 2022, 9:35 am

Great photos! I love the colors… One of my favorite places for photography.
"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."
— John Muir

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MarkInTheDark
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Location: Portland, OR

Re: Painted Hills 4-29-22

Post by MarkInTheDark » May 6th, 2022, 2:10 pm

Killer photos!

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BaileyBoy
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Re: Painted Hills 4-29-22

Post by BaileyBoy » May 7th, 2022, 8:36 am

Beautiful shots and perfect timing, you beat the rain/whatever. Your weather forecaster must be professional. :!:

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drm
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Re: Painted Hills 4-29-22

Post by drm » May 7th, 2022, 10:25 am

bobcat wrote:
May 6th, 2022, 9:03 am
all five little trails
The little/short trails is actually what has kept me from visiting the Painted Hills more. Driving all that way, I tend to expect a good hike, and despite the views, I have only visited one unit, and that was because I was on the way to where I spent the night to see the total eclipse a few years ago.

Gotta get over that. :oops:

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bobcat
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Re: Painted Hills 4-29-22

Post by bobcat » May 9th, 2022, 7:09 am

drm wrote:
May 7th, 2022, 10:25 am
The little/short trails is actually what has kept me from visiting the Painted Hills more.
There are quite a few nearby trails to fill out a day if you're staying in the area, including in the Mill Creek Wilderness and on Sutton Mountain.

I was with my wife, who was satisfied with the painted landscape, but I had my eyes on a couple of obscure routes only another three miles or so up Burnt Ranch Road: Pat's Cabin (9 1/2 miles r-t) and the Rocky Trail (5 1/2 miles). Both are in wilderness study areas proposed for national monument status. Pat's Cabin first requires a ford of Bridge Creek, which may be difficult in the spring.

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markesc
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Re: Painted Hills 4-29-22

Post by markesc » May 31st, 2022, 11:34 am

OR: Just continue up the road and hit the blue basin area... that's a neat often overlooked area
drm wrote:
May 7th, 2022, 10:25 am
bobcat wrote:
May 6th, 2022, 9:03 am
all five little trails
The little/short trails is actually what has kept me from visiting the Painted Hills more. Driving all that way, I tend to expect a good hike, and despite the views, I have only visited one unit, and that was because I was on the way to where I spent the night to see the total eclipse a few years ago.

Gotta get over that. :oops:

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BurnsideBob
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Location: Mount Angel, Oregon

Re: Painted Hills 4-29-22

Post by BurnsideBob » June 2nd, 2022, 5:54 am

Agree with Markesc, the Blue Basin Loop is very dramatic. 3.1 miles with 800 feet of vertical. We did it May 26 and found wildflowers in bloom but grasses seeded out and starting to cure. Although generally north facing, this will be a warm hike during summer.

Burnside
IMG_6897v2.JPG
I keep making protein shakes but they always turn out like margaritas.

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