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Blue Basin – 2025-05-24-000100 USA Oregon Kimberly 669.1📷 Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 4.0

Blue Basin

Dayville, OR

Nature

A bowl of blue-green claystone in the Sheep Rock Unit. The Island in Time trail follows a creek into the basin past fossil replicas; take water, as summer afternoons are very hot.

Nearest town
Dayville, OR
Category
Nature & parks
GPS
44.5955, -119.6311

Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.

Good to know

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

Featured in these trip guides

Smith Rock, the Painted Hills and John Day Fossil Beds – Rhyolite tuff of Smith Rock© Jstuby · CC0
26
National park loops

Smith Rock, the Painted Hills and John Day Fossil Beds

175 mi8 stops3 days

Nearby

Thomas Condon Paleontology Center – 2025-05-23-232059 USA Oregon Kimberly 678.4© Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

Thomas Condon Paleontology Center

Dayville, OR
Painted Hills – 2025-05-23-200009 USA Oregon Mitchell 618.9© Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Painted Hills

Mitchell, OR
Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site – Kam Wah Chung apothecary window - John Day Oregon© Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 3.0
History

Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site

John Day, OR
Smith Rock State Park – Rhyolite tuff of Smith Rock© Jstuby · CC0
Editor's pick
Nature

Smith Rock State Park

Terrebonne, OR

Campsites nearby

All campsites in Oregon · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026

FAQs

Where is Blue Basin?

Blue Basin is in Dayville, OR, at GPS 44.5955, -119.6311. It is about 36 mi from John Day.

Can you camp near Blue Basin?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Fish House Inn and RV Park, about 10 mi away; within 25 mi there are 11 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

Which road trips pass Blue Basin?

Blue Basin is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Smith Rock, the Painted Hills and John Day Fossil Beds.

What is there to see near Blue Basin?

Places worth a stop nearby: Thomas Condon Paleontology Center (3 mi), Painted Hills (32 mi), Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site (35 mi) and Smith Rock State Park (76 mi).

When is the best time to visit Blue Basin?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)