Clarno is part of the John Day National Monument system and is located at Oregon route 218 near the John Day river.

The Clarno Unit is located 18 miles west of the town of Fossil, Oregon.

There are trails located ¼ mile west of the picnic area along Highway 218. The Trail of Fossils and the Clarno Arch Trail start at the trailhead. 

There  is a picnic and parking area close to the Palisades rocks, and parking in front of the rocks.  

The nearest town with accommodation and extensive services is approximately an hour away. 

Permits are required by the park ranger from the John Day National Monument and should be applied for a minimum 21 days in advance.

Absolutely no drone use in the Monument.

A destination RV resort & marina located at Lake Simtustus in central Oregon. The property features an RV park with 77 full hook-up spaces and breathtaking panoramic canyon or lake views from every RV site. Lake Simtustus boasts over 300 sunny days a year. With average summer temperatures in the 80’s, this is an excellent choice for a recreation location. The only private property with lake access on the 640 acre, 8-mile long lake, surrounded by two hillside canyons. Here you can enjoy fishing, water sports, waterfall and trail networks for locations.  

Permits must be issued by Portland General Electric, and for fishing use and some destinations across the water by the Warm Springs Reservation.

The Antelope Valley between Shaniko and Prineville is a stunning area of towering rock formations and winding roads, perfect for a car commercial.   There are few services in the area, but Madras is located nearby and offers excellent accommodation, restaurants and services.

From Wikipedia:

Antelope is a small town in Wasco County, Oregon, United States. It has an estimated population of 47 people (as of 2012), and is incorporated as a city. The town was incorporated in 1901, though it was founded earlier. The City of Antelope was originally a stage and freight wagon road stop on the Old Dalles to Canyon City Trail. Howard Maupin came to Antelope in 1863 to operate a horse ranch, becoming the caretaker of the stage station which was established by Henry Wheeler in 1864. Maupin began raising cattle to provide meat for travelers. Nathan Wallace, who is sometimes credited with being Antelope’s first postmaster, acquired the Antelope stage station from Maupin in 1870. Records indicate the community was considered to have been established in 1872.

Extraordinary privately owned property of 17,000 acres outside of Madras, Oregon consisting of canyons, fields, river and rock formations.  There is also a ‘cowboy jacuzzi’ aka waterfall which you can trek into.  Plus working barns, clay pigeon shoot area with mountain views, red angus and horses. Multiple ponds. Waterfall. River access.

Private saloon bar.  Close to accommodation (approximately 20 minutes).  

Panoramic vista’s from all points looking east.  Mountain views. 

Images taken end of May around noon.

Just. Unbelievably. Stunning.