The visitor center, located in the Sheep Rock Unit, is open daily from March through October. During the winter it is closed on weekends and holidays. The trails and picnic facilities are open all year. There are no campgrounds within the monument, but nearby national forests, state parks, and private facilities off or a variety of campsites. Lodging, food, and gasoline are available in nearby communities.
Water is available at the visitor center all year and at all picnic areas during the summer season.
Two trails begin at the base of the Palisades. Winding up through the lahars, they allow observation of embedded plant remains. Picnic facilities and water are available. Within the boundaries are significant fossil sites not yet open to the public. In the Clarno Unit Beds, more than 300 plant species have been found.