Description: Picture Gorge contains one of the largest concentrations of pictographs in central Oregon. The gorge is a dramatic canyon cut by the upper John Day River through numerous distinct basalt flows. Although only a little over a mile long, the canyon walls reach almost 1,000 feet at the highest point. The images consist of anthropomorphs, zoomorphs, mythological beings and geometric designs painted predominantly in red ochre. Natural ochre deposits are found within the gorge and an archaeological site near the head of the gorge produced evidence of extensive ochre processing dating to around 3,000 years ago. Following the visit to the rock art we will stop at the nearby museum at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
Access: EASY access by walking along the level highway shoulder for approximately ½ mile. A secondary site requires a short scramble on basalt boulders.
