The Blue Basin has two different trails, heading through and above the Blue Basin. The name for the Blue Basin comes from the blue hues in the clay formed from volcanic ash.

What kind of fossils are found in Blue Basin?

Fossils found in the John Day Strata include a wide variety of plants and more than 100 species of mammals, including dogs, cats, oreodonts, saber-toothed tigers, horses, camels, and rodents. The Blue Basin and the Sheep Rock unit contain many of these same fossils, as well as turtles, opossums, and large pigs.

Why is Sheep Rock called Sheep Rock?

Sheep Rock is named after the bighorn sheep that once populated its slopes. The Sheep Rock Unit is located on Highway 19, between the towns of Kimberly and Dayville, Oregon.