John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · Oregon

Sheep Rock Overlook Trail

0.3 mi of trail, end to end · about 50 ft of climbing · 2,242 ft–2,289 ft · gravel surface · trail class Developed · hiking

HistoryVisitor centers

Along the way Cant Ranch Cant Ranch House Visitor Center

River Trail the Park Service's write-up

10-35 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Sheep Rock Unit

Starting at the Cant Ranch parking lot, this 0.6 mi (1 km) long trail passes through historic fields and alongside a historic fruit orchard on its way to the John Day River. Fruit may be collected from the orchard when in season, but please do not climb the trees since the branches are old and brittle.

Accessibility This relatively flat trail is 0.6 miles long and has an average width of 57.1 inches wide with a minimum width of 40 inches. There is a bench and wayside partway through the trail and another bench at the end of the trail. There is a picnic table at the end of the trail. Potential hazards: Exposed metal rods

This hike on nps.gov

Sheep Rock Overlook Trail the Park Service's write-up

10-30 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Sheep Rock Unit

Starting at the front gate of the historic Cant home, this 0.5 mi (0.8 km) trail ends at an overlook with a view of the river valley with Sheep Rock high above.

Accessibility This 0.5 mi (0.8 km) long gravel trail has an average width of 70.6 inches and a minimum 35 inches. There is a large rock with a dedication to Thomas Condon at the end of the trail. There is a bench at the end of the trail with a view of the John Day River. Potential hazards: large rock, rocks

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.