As of Jun 15, 2026, 10:43 PM, out of season, returns ~April. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Each spring the Painted Hills Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument produces a brief, location-dependent burst of desert wildflowers.
Flower displays are dominated by low-forb species (bitterroot, hedgehog cactus, golden bee plant, chaenactis) and vary widely year-to-year with winter-spring precipitation and timing of snowmelt.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Painted Hills Unit Visitor Parking (Painted Hills Overlook Trailhead) |
| Painted Cove Trailhead (boardwalk loop) |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.