Hiking John Day National Monument: Blue Basin Island in Time

John Day Blue Basin Island In Time

The John Day Fossil Bed is a very cool Monument located in central Oregon. John Day is a bit unique in that it is spread out and separated into several different units that are different from each other. The Blue Basin Trailhead is located in the Sheep Rock Unit and that is where you will find the trailhead for the Island In Time Hike.

Getting Started

The Island In time Hike starts at the Blue Basin trailhead, which also holds the Blue Basin Overlook trail. The trail for Island in Time starts to the right side of the parking lot and heads across a bit of prairie before heading up into the hills. There are some trees on this lower section but that is the last of the shade for the hike so make sure you have some water ready. There are also several info graphics throughout this lower section of the trail that give you a history lesson of what the area looked like and the animals that roamed here through history.

Up the Hills

The real heart of the hike is up through the narrow canyon that leads to the amazing Blue Basin. The canyon has a consistent uphill grade of around a 6% grade with spikes of up to 14% for short bursts. While this steep section only lasts about a half of a mile, it does get a bit challenging. The canyon walls are mostly bare stone that can reflect heat back down so when we hiked in June it was extremely hot. OK, now that I have scared you, this is actually a really cool section of the hike too!

The rock walls to the left of the canyon are really stunning. They stand nearly vertical and have all sorts of shapes and designs, especially around the top. They are like capped hoodoo’s or castle walls and are just stunning to look at as you walk. The white stone walls get interrupted with sections of red rock at time and it feels like a far reach from the flatter land at the start of the hike. All of this in just about a half mile!

So while the hike is a bit strenuous going up the hill it is amazingly beautiful in its rocky desert landscape. Plus, it all leads to a great finish but before that, there are some other nice features of the hike, fossils!

Fossils in Time

One of the coolest parts of the Island In Time hike is that they have actual fossils encased along the trail. There are several areas with these small boxes that are protecting fossils where they were originally found.

There are several of the fossils on the trail and it really shows that you never really know what the rocks we hike by are trying to tell us. Luckily there are great folks who have protected these fossils and even put several info graphics (see gallery below) along the trail to explain what this land was like in the past. It is fascinating to see depictions of the life that lived here thousands of years ago!

Blue Basin

The best part of the Island in Time hike is definitely the Blue Basin. When you make it to the top of the trail you will find yourself in an amazing rocky bowl, surrounded on three sides by towering rock walls. The words and pictures don’t really do it justice but it is majestic.

The top of the trail leads to a small area with a bench where you can take in the entire 360 degree view. It is a cool feeling to be down in the middle of this bowl and be surrounded all around by these rock towers. This was by far my favorite part of the hike!

Video of the John Day Blue Basin Island In Time Hike

I have created a time-lapsed video of the Island in Time Hike to give you a feel for what it is like. I call these time lapsed versions of the hikes my hikers edits. If you enjoy the video, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest updates.

Distance and Elevation

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 1.4 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 253 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 2,401 feet. I was also moving for a total of 39 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

Depending on the time of year, the Island in Time Hike isn’t too bad but in the summers it can be a bit rough. The sun can reflect off all the rocks and make for a very toasty hike. There is a steady incline throughout the hike that can be a bit strenuous at times, but the hike isn’t too long. I am going to rate this as a moderate as it may be a challenge with heat and incline.

Terrain

The pathway to the Island in Time Hike at John Day is mostly paved but is susceptible to dirt and dust around it which can make it slick at times. There are some small bridges to cross over as well. For the most part it is pretty easy to follow but you will want some good shoes with traction to make the trip easier. The biggest hurdle is that there is not much shade along the trail. There are some trees in the lower section but you will be exposed to the elements for most of the hike. When we hiked in June, the temps were mid-90s and the sun was intense so make sure you have sun and weather protection with you.

Finding the John Day Blue Basin Island In Time Hike

The Island in Time Hike is part of the John Day National Monument Sheep Rock Unit. It begins at the Blue Basin Trailhead which is just north of the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center. There is no fee to visit the John Day Monument currently.

Wrapping up the John Day Blue Basin Island In Time Hike

Overall, I really enjoyed the John Day Blue Basin Island In Time Hike. It had a little bit of everything: Fossils, education and some amazing mountains and rock walls. The trail isn’t too taxing while still being a challenge that feels like you accomplished something when you get there. The view in the basin is also stunning.

Be careful if you get there in the summer or when the temps are really high. The sun reflecting off the rock made it a scorcher on a hot June day when I hiked here. Otherwise, enjoy the cool views, fossils and a bit of a history lesson of this unique trail in the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument.

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to my interactive map page that you can find here. If you have a suggestion or comment you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com. Or follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the John Day Blue Basin Island in Time Hike

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