Ok, there are some other trip reports that were able to find the trail, I wasn't. That aside, I do like poking into unusual places, and this was certainly one. Some details:
-When you come off of Pinto Ridge Rd NE there is a simple barbwire gate that you will have to open to get your car through.
-You either want a vehicle with good ground clearance or have some mad skills from your days running a lowrider over speedbumps. 4WD shouldn't be needed traction 2WD is ok. There are just some of the potholes/dips that would bottom out a vehicle without good ground clearance and risk high-centering.
-As you are driving in (North) right about the point you come to the end of the little lake on your right (g-maps says 47.551977, -119.290055) you'll want to keep straight. To the left, the road continues to parallel the canal. Unless you have 4WD and the skills I mentioned, that is a dangerous route with some extreme grades right next to the canal. Follow the green path on the map image below and it is easy/safe.
-I'd suggest driving over the two bridges at the end, where the canals come out from the tunnel. You can then park over to the left, out of the way.
-From there you can walk West, up the grade, and see if you can find the trail. It's hard to tell what are trails made by cattle/wildlife vs a genuine hiking trail. You can probably walk along some of the other dirt roads too, and try to get to the old railroad bed (NE and up a road on the canyon of the spot I mentioned to park).
-Overall, it was fun to check out, but not really a hike. This is a neat place from an engineering/water management perspective. Thinking about all the farmland that this water goes to irrigate: simply amazing. We did manage to see some beautiful wildflowers.
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