Vinegar Hill

Vinegar Hill, also known as Forest Road 2010, is one of the highest-drivable trails in Oregon. Situated in the northeast part of the Malheur National Forest, this elevated area offers spectacular vistas of the North Fork John Day Wilderness, the Middle and North Fork drainages of the John Day River, and the peaks of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness to the south.

The area is rich in history, with active and decaying remains of mines visible. It offers unparalleled opportunities for solitude and isolation, except during big-game hunting seasons. Vinegar Hill, the highest point in the Greenhorn Mountains, was a significant site during the Gold Rush of the early 1860s. Formerly known as Greenhorn Peak, it began appearing on maps as Vinegar Hill sometime in the 20th century. A pinnacle of green serpentine on the east ridge, referred to as the "Greenhorn," attracted miners to the area, leading to the establishment of many mining sites that can still be explored today.

Forest Service Road 2010 leads to the summit of Vinegar Hill. The road is maintained for roughly 7 miles before becoming a rough 4x4 trail, often blocked by fallen trees and snowdrifts during winter and spring. If following the road, it is almost 6 miles from the end of the maintained road to the summit. Black Butte Camp, located 10 miles up, is entirely unmaintained and serves as a dispersed camping area along this trail.