John Day Fossil Beds National Monument – The Clarno Unit ~ 32651 Highway 19, Kimberly, Oregon * Phone: (541) 987-2333 ~
The Clarno Unit is one of three sections of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument that was designated by the United States as an area of special concern in Wheeler and Grant counties of Eastern Oregon. It is located within the John Day River basin and operated by the National Parks Service. The focus of the protected area is its geology and paleontology specializing in well-preserved layers of fossilized materials including flora and fauna. Most found here date from the late Eocene around 45 million years ago to the late Miocene at 5 million years before the present. The Other two units are Sheep Rock and Painted Hills. The total designated area is 13,944 acres of semi-desert shrub land, riparian zones, and badlands. It was originally visited by Native Americans such as the Sahaptin who hunted, fished, and gathered roots/berries in the region. Then came the Euro-American visitors who established ranches, farms, and small towns along the river. Under the guidance of Thomas Condon in 1864, geologists and paleontologists began digging in the area and making the discoveries that the area is famous for today. Clarno is the westernmost of the three units and is approximately 1,969 acres roughly 18 miles west of Fossil along Oregon Route 218. A breathtaking rest stop along the scenic Journey through Time scenic byway in Oregon is the geological feature known as the Pallisades. It is located roughly 18 miles west of Fossil, Oregon. These cliffs and landforms are created by prehistoric volcanic lahars (or volcanic mudflows) roughly 54-40 million years ago. This landscape was quite different at that time – a lush semi-tropical rainforest with jungles, vines, trees, shrubs, and megafauna. After the volcanic cataclysms, the environment was turned into the arid desert it is now. Fossil evidence depicts a vast arrange of plant life from leaves, fruits, nuts, seeds, and petrified wood of over 173 species of trees, vines, shrubs, and other plants. Numerous faunal fossil remains of crocodiles, mini four-toed horses, huge rhino-like brontotheres, and meat-eating creodonts were found. There are three distinct hiking trails all under a mile in length demonstrating the fossil and geological records. Picnic tables and restrooms make for a restful stay. Drinking water is available from the rest stop May through September. Rated: 5 of 5 stars. ~ Review by Leaf McGowan/Thomas Baurley, Techno Tink Media ~
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“Few places in North America offer such a unique look into the distant past than the Clarno Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. From the glimpses of the tropical forest captured in the rocks of the palisade cliffs to the spectacular nuts, fruits, leaves, and twigs preserved in the one-of-a-kind Clarno nut beds, to the rhinos, brontotherese, and horses unearthed in the Hancock mammal quarry pictured here. The fossil of Clarno provides an extremely rare and surprisingly complex record of life in ancient Oregon 40-54 million years ago. … massive brontotheres – left, primitive four-toed horses such as epihippus center and hapiohippus right and a powerful bear-like predator hemipsaladon – upper right are just a few of the fascinating animals unearthed in the Hancock mammal quarry. The quarry located only a mile from where you stand may have been a watering hole where animals congregated in large numbers as in this artist’s depiction. Many fossil specimens unearthed here are on display in the Thomas Condon Paleontological Center near Dayville Oregon. ” “This boulder contains rounded rocks that are evidence of the incredible power of volcanic mudflows called lahars. The larger the rocks that were tumbled in the flood, the deeper or faster the lahar was. look above to see large rounded boulders on the cliffs. Imagine what it would have sounded like as a mudflow crashed through the semitropical forest. The source of the Clarno lahars is to the south across the highway. Those foothills are all the remains of an ancient volcano. ” The Pallisades – Clarno Unit – John Day Fossil National Monument.“This boulder contains rounded rocks that are evidence of the incredible power of volcanic mudflows called lahars. The larger the rocks that were tumbled in the flood, the deeper or faster the lahar was. look above to see large rounded boulders on the cliffs. Imagine what it would have sounded like as a mudflow crashed through the semitropical forest. The source of the Clarno lahars is to the south across the highway. Those foothills are all the remains of an ancient volcano. ” The Pallisades – Clarno Unit – John Day Fossil National Monument“50 mya – dense with vines and climbers a near-tropical forest existed here. tiny 4 toed horses browsed the forest. Annual rainfall was about 100 inches. ” Geologic Time Trail. The Pallisades – Clarno Unit – John Day Fossil National Monument“Geologic Time Trail: This mostly level trail connects to the picnic area around the corner. The time period signs you see are spaced dating along the path at intervals representing various time periods over the last 50 million years. From this end of the trail the markers start at the beginning of Clarno time, 50 million years then they become progressively younger. ” The Pallisades – Clarno Unit – John Day Fossil National Monument“44 mya – A series of volcanic mudflows swept down hillsides to form the layers of the palisades cliffs above. ” Trail of Fossils. The Pallisades (http://www.technogypsie.net/reviews/?p=27413) – Clarno Unit – John Day Fossil National MonumentJohn Day Fossil Beds site – Clarno unit info board: “Clarno unit: Arch trail – 1/2 mile round trip. This rough trail climbs steeply on the base of the palisades, two fossilized logs form a t about 40 feet above the trail. a delicate stone arch is found at the end of the trail. Trail of fossils: 1/4 mile loop. This rough trail climbs steeply through a boulder field. It is the best trail to see leaf and wood fossils exposed naturally in the monument. Look for the fossils on the fallen rocks along the trail. Geologic time trail: 1/2 mile round trip. this trail starts at the picnic area and provides a fantastic view up toward the rocky spires of the palisades. This trail connects to the trail of fossils and arch trails. From here all 3 trails are 1.25 miles round trip. ” The Pallisades – Clarno Unit – John Day Fossil National MonumentJohn Day Fossil Beds site – Clarno unit info board: “Devastation: The Clarno Palisades are all that remain of an event of catastrophic proportions that took place 48 million years ago. Many miles from where you now stand a series of cataclysmic eruptions rocked the landscape sending plumes of ash and fire into the sky, blocking out the sun. A wall of boiling mud roared through the forest, killing everything in its path and instantly burying them under hundreds of feet of debris. This raging mudflow called a lahar created one of the most unique and fascinating collections of Cenozoic fossils in North America, frozen in time on a day of devastation.” The Pallisades – Clarno Unit – John Day Fossil National Monument. Volcanic Legacy: Chronicle 25 – Chronicles of Sir Thomas Leaf, Lady Etain, and Prince Cian.The Pallisades – Clarno Unit – John Day Fossil National Monument. john day fossil site clarno unit info board: “A different world – as you walk these trails you will discover an ancient forest captured within the very rocks. Gaze upon the primordial forest floor and marvel at the dramatic changes in climate this habitat experienced over 50 million years, humankind has never witnessed changes of this magnitude. The cliffs towering above you are a time capsule from a vastly different world. Instead of sagebrush and juniper, imagine towering palms and exotic fruit trees like bananas growing in a lush tropical forest. How far must you travel today to see bananas growing wild? the habitat preserved in these cliffs is most similar to that of modern Panama. Consider how the landscape around you may transform as the impacts of modern climate change manifest. How is today’s changing climate different from what these prehistoric creatures experienced? What role do humans play in these changes and how might our choice impact the plants and animals that live here today?” Volcanic Legacy: Chronicle 25 – Chronicles of Sir Thomas Leaf, Lady Etain, and Prince Cian.
