2023 Map of Clarno

About this map

John Day Wild and Scenic River carves through the volcanic history of north-central Oregon, defining the boundary between Wasco and Wheeler counties. This landscape is a center for paleontological and geological research, dominated by the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the Spring Basin Wilderness. The map reveals a network of educational and interpretive trails including the Hancock Pictograph Trl, Geologic Time Trl, and Rabbit Rock Trl, all surrounding the striking formations of The Palisades and Clarno Arch. Small-scale settlement is localized near Clarno, where the historical footprint is preserved at Tillotson Cem and Clarno Cem. The terrain rises sharply from the river banks toward Iron Mountain and Horse Mtn, with numerous drainage canyons like Indian Canyon and Equisetum Canyon illustrating the erosional patterns of this arid region.