This is a fantastic, yet underused, loop through and around Spout Springs Ski Area that enjoys some rim riding over the Lookinglass drainage with views all the way into Idaho. About half of this ride is on singletrack, the other half on logging roads that have been closed to traffic, which are actually cross country ski trails in the winter. One problem is that this trail doesn't get much traffic, so there are areas you have to do some bushwhacking. The views up here are worth it though. Most of the grown in section is the northernmost part of the ridge coming down to the lift.
The ride starts from the parking lot at the Spout Springs Ski area. Go through the gate and start climbing right away on the road that travels past the lodge and traverses across the ski slope. It will top out at a "T" where you go to the right and past some communication towers. Here is the high point of the route. When you get to the gate at the end of this road, you go left on Balloon Tree Rd (a gravel road near Woodland Campground). Right away start looking for the singletrack trail on the left side of the road. It only has a small marker on it. This is the Eagle Ridge Trail. You'll follow this for over a mile until there is an intersection with another trail. Go left on this trail. It will follow some grown-in roads back to White Stag meadow, where you might lose your trail. Just head straight across the meadow and you'll pick up a road there. Shortly after that, there is a hard right turn you don't want to miss as 2 roads merge. This is the road that takes you back to the ski area. When you get on the ridge where the ski lift comes up, the trail can be hard to follow. The trail stays on the ridge and then switches back a few times and sweeps down to the bottom of the ski lift. You're actually following most of the ski runs Happy and Jaw Bone down to the lift.
Alternately, this ride can be done from Woodland Campground or Balloon Tree Rd. It shares part of the Eagle Ridge Trail. As part of the Walla Walla River Package, there are connections between Umatilla Rim and Burnt Cabin that avoid the highway. These connectors are here and here, respectively.
