Words cannot describe the diversity of hues that were spread around in front of me. Across the valley, vibrant green hillslopes with fresh spring grass gave way to blue skies, while in the valley in front of me, erosion had stripped away the topsoil, revealing beautiful bands of reds, yellows, pinks and whites the likes of which I had only observed in Badlands.

This was Painted Hills, a unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument that is spread across the dry eastern half of Oregon. Photos don't do this very unique corner of the state justice. It deserves the drive out there.

This is one image taken from an overlook of the principal attraction at Painted Hills

Painted Hills
OR USA