John Day Fossil Beds, OR

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Painted Hills - John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Wheeler County, Oregon

Today’s Forecast:

🌤
63°F
High: 69° | Low: 46°
Current Temperature
Station: MSWCD
Observed at: 8:30 pm CDT on 9/26/26
Wind: 0 mph | Humidity: 23%

Tonight:Mostly cloudy. Low around 46, with temperatures rising to around 49 overnight. Northwest wind 0 to 9 mph.
Sunday:Mostly cloudy. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 67 in the afternoon. North wind 0 to 7 mph.
Sunday Night:Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Northwest wind 0 to 6 mph.

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Today’s Report:

🥾 Hiking

Excellent
  100 /100

Excellent for hiking. High near 69°F. Low rain risk (1%). Light wind (7 mph).

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Excellent for hiking. High near 72°F. Light wind (7 mph).

⛺ Camping

Excellent
  100 /100

Excellent for camping. High near 69°F. Low rain risk (1%). Light wind (7 mph).

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Excellent for camping. High near 72°F. Light wind (7 mph).

🎪 Outdoor Events / Activities

Excellent
  100 /100

Excellent for outdoor events / activities. High near 69°F. Low rain risk (1%). Light wind (7 mph).

  • Temp: Favorable conditions
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Excellent for outdoor events / activities. High near 72°F. Light wind (7 mph).

About John Day Fossil Beds

John Day Fossil Beds is a broad monument planning page for Painted Hills, Sheep Rock, Clarno, scenic drives, short hikes, visitor stops, and high-desert road trips.

Make the Most of a John Day Fossil Beds Day

Use heat, wind, storms, smoke, road distance, and clay trail conditions to choose between the monument units, a short hike, or a longer scenic route.

Weather Tips for John Day Fossil Beds

  • High desert heat, strong sun, wind, thunderstorms, muddy clay after rain, smoke, cold nights, and long drives between units can all affect fossil-bed plans.
  • In high desert areas, plan around heat, sun exposure, wind, cold nights, smoke, and long distances between services.
  • For campground days, check overnight lows, fire restrictions, rain timing, and how quickly shelter is available.
  • Smoke, fire restrictions, muddy roads, or seasonal closures can change the best plan during otherwise pleasant weather.

Nearby Towns and Areas

This page is meant to cover a roughly 25-mile outdoor-planning area around John Day Fossil Beds, including John Day Fossil Beds monument units, Painted Hills, Sheep Rock, Clarno, nearby towns, and high-desert scenic-drive corridors. It can also be useful when planning outdoor time near:

  • Painted Hills
  • Sheep Rock
  • Clarno
  • Mitchell
  • Kimberly
  • Dayville
  • John Day River
  • Thomas Condon visitor area

Plan Around the Conditions

Use the forecast to choose the best version of John Day Fossil Beds rather than forcing one itinerary. Match rain, wind, tides, river or lake conditions, trail surfaces, smoke, road access, seasonal closures, and temperature swings to the activity that gives your group the most comfortable day.

7-Day Forecast for John Day Fossil Beds

🌤
63°F
High: 69° | Low: 46°
Current Temperature
Station: MSWCD
Observed at: 8:30 pm CDT on 9/26/26
Wind: 0 mph | Humidity: 23%
Sun ☁
69° 37°
1%
Mon ☀
72° 42°
0%
Tue ☀
78° 45°
0%
Wed ☀
75° 44°
0%
Thu ☀
77° 44°
2%
Fri ⛅
73° 42°
2%
Sat ☀
76° --°
0%

7-Day High Temperature Trend

69° Sun 72° Mon 78° Tue 75° Wed 77° Thu 73° Fri 76° Sat

7-Day Low Temperature Trend

37° Sun 42° Mon 45° Tue 44° Wed 44° Thu 42° Fri 50° Sat

📊 7-Day Outdoor Outlook

Good Fair Poor 100 Sun 100 Mon 80 Tue 100 Wed 85 Thu 100 Fri 90 Sat
Forecast data from the National Weather Service  |  Last Updated: September 27, 2026 12:10 am CDT