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1995 Map of Vinegar Hill

Name: 1995 Topographic Map of Vinegar Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1998
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1998

About this map

Greenhorn Mountains define the high terrain of this mid-1990s survey, where the borders of the Umatilla National Forest, Malheur National Forest, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest converge. This region is a dense network of early mining history, evidenced by numerous named operations such as the Ben Harrison Mine, Portland Mine, and Tempest Mine clustered near Vinegar Hill. The landscape is etched by the drainage basins of the North Fork John Day River and the Middle Fork John Day River, connected by an intricate system of creeks including Desolation Creek and Granite Creek.

Settlement is sparse, represented by seasonal or industrial outposts like Camp Simms and Cow Camp Meadows. The presence of the Indian Rock Scenic Area and the John Day Wilderness indicates a shift toward conservation and recreation in a landscape historically dominated by resource extraction. Local historians can trace the paths of old prospecting routes and the relationship between early mining claims and the natural water sources that supported them.