2.3 hr
Overview
Active volcanic activity 31-29 million years ago and about 100 miles to the west of the current location of the Blue Basin produced the welded ash tuffs and blue-green claystone that characterizes exposed remnants of the Turtle Cove Member of the John Day Formation. At that time, this part of Oregon was a mixed woodland interspersed with open meadows and home to a wide variety of creatures, including tortoises, three-toed horses, beavers, oreodonts, wild dogs, nimravids (false saber-tooths), and entelodonts. Fossil remains of all of these species and many more come to light as the soft deposits steadily erode.
Trail Stats
6.6 km
262 m
888 m
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Photos
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