The Painted Hills are one of three units in The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. This is high desert; pure, wild, rugged, serene, and remote. The smell of sage fills the air and calms the spirit. We camped at Priest Hole on the John Day River as no camping is allowed inside the monument. To get to Priest Hole from the Painted Hills unit you must drive into the backcountry on gravel roads. As you leave the pavement behind, you enter a rugged, remote wilderness. The river is inviting; cool and calm. Finally, relief from the heat of the desert sun.