This Painted Hills Cove Loop is an easy hike for beginner and family. It is one of the places you can get very close to Painted Hills scenery. This is a great option if you're looking to kill the time before catching a sunset.
To get to the trailhead, use the US highway 26 which is the only way you can go to the Painted Hills Unit. Make a turn when arriving at Burnt Ranch Rd junction. Drive up and follow the sign around 6 miles. The trail junction is where you passed the Carroll Rim Trail and Painted Hill Overlook. Turn right at the junction then drive around 1 or 2 miles and you are there. If you need an exact coordination to put in the GPS, it is 44.662126, -120.278668.
Start off from Painted Cove trailhead right next to the parking lot, if you take the left fork of the trail, it will begin with a very level boardwalk. There are several interpretive signs along the way. The next portion of the trail takes you off the boardwalk up to the top of the hill where you can see an entire area. Further up the trail will lead you back to trailhead. The total duration is around 30 minutes.