Wheeler district, Oregon, United States

Places to visit near Fossil

Fossil is a town in Wheeler district, Oregon, United States, home to about 449 people. Within 50 km by road there are 206 places to visit — 161 hill stations & viewpoints, 12 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 10 wildlife, forests & gardens and 6 parks. The must-see places are Dyer State Wayside (18 km), Tittie Butte (33 km) and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (43 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Fossil on the map

Fossil, Oregon
Fossil, Wheeler district, Oregon, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Fossil at a glance

Location
Wheeler district, Oregon, United States
Population
about 449
Coordinates
44.9982° N, 120.2161° W
Places within 50 km
206 (4 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for parks

Top places to visit near Fossil

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Fossil: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Fossil, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Fossil

168 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Fossil. The closest is Coates Canyon (2 km); the best-known is Bear Hollow County Park (12 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Fossil

21 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Fossil. The closest is Hoover Creek Reservoir (5 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Fossil

14 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Fossil. The closest is Fossil Digging Site (1 km); the best-known is John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (43 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Parks near Fossil

7 parks within 100 km of Fossil. The closest is Wheeler Court House Park (1 km); the best-known is Dyer State Wayside (18 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Churches near Fossil

7 churches within 100 km of Fossil. The closest is Saint Catherine Catholic Church (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near Fossil

6 forts & heritage within 100 km of Fossil. The closest is National Motorcycle Riders Memorial (19 km); the best-known is Condon Commercial Historic District (33 km). Best time: october to february.

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A one-day trip from Fossil

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 120 km on the road.

  1. Start in Fossil
  2. 33 km Tittie Butte · viewpoint, Wheeler
  3. 10 km John Day Fossil Beds National Monument · monument, Wheeler
  4. 27 km Butte Creek Summit · peak, Wheeler
  5. 5 km Bear Hollow County Park · viewpoint, Wheeler
  6. 27 km Dyer State Wayside · park, Gilliam
  7. 18 km Back to Fossil

Plan a longer trip from Fossil — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Fossil

No traveller has reported from around Fossil yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Fossil

    All places near Fossil by distance

    Within 15 km of Fossil

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Fossil by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints161168Coates Canyon (2 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs1221Hoover Creek Reservoir (5 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1014Fossil Digging Site (1 km)
    Parks67Wheeler Court House Park (1 km)
    Churches77Saint Catherine Catholic Church (1 km)
    Forts & heritage36National Motorcycle Riders Memorial (19 km)
    Waterfalls06Glutton Falls Canyon (56 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves34Clarno Rapids (26 km)
    Museums23Fossil Museum and Pine Creek Schoolhouse (1 km)
    Other attractions23Arch Trail (23 km)
    Caves01Gibson Cave (91 km)

    Fossil: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Fossil?

    Dyer State Wayside (park, about 18 km), Bear Hollow County Park (viewpoint, about 12 km), Tittie Butte (viewpoint, about 33 km), Butte Creek Summit (peak, about 17 km), John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (monument, about 43 km), Spring Basin Wilderness (nature spot, about 25 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Fossil?

    206 places on Spotwander: 161 hill stations & viewpoints, 12 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 10 wildlife, forests & gardens, 6 parks, 7 churches.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Fossil?

    Coates Canyon, about 2 km by road; Reno Canyon (3 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Fossil?

    Hoover Creek Reservoir, about 5 km by road; Kinzua Reservoir (historical) (17 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Fossil?

    Fossil Digging Site, about 1 km by road; Shelton Wayside County Park (19 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Fossil?

    Start in Fossil, visit Tittie Butte, then John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, then Butte Creek Summit, then Bear Hollow County Park, then Dyer State Wayside, and drive back — about 120 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Fossil?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for parks.

    Towns near Fossil

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Fossil’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Fossil on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.