Sheep Rock in the John Day Fossil Monument is located in a valley along with a section of the John Day River. The stratified hills in the area reveal the entire mammal history. The site also contains the primary visitor center for the monument. The visitor center has a nice museum containing examples of the fossils found in the hills. A paleontology center is actively used for cleaning and preparing fossils for study. If you have time, you might be able to take a guided ranger tour.
This is a nice stopping point for our son. The center has a lot to explore and there are hiking trails fairly close by. Across the street from the visitors center is the Cant Ranch House - the historical home of one of the original ranching families.
Down the road in Dayville, the Fish House and RV park is a terrific place to spend the night. You can camp, stay in your RV or rent rooms. Dayville also has a few markets and a gas station.
