Access is off the 31 Road either from Highway 204 or Ruckle Junction. Looks like 1/2 of the turnoff sign is back up. Look for the 270 spur at 45 40.879 118 05.416. You'll need to take an immediate left turn on the unmarked 271 spur which will start heading uphill after paralleling the 31 Road for a short stretch. You can drive to the lookout unless the gate is closed about 1/3 of the way up from the 31 Road. If it is locked, it adds 8/10 mile walk up the road to the tower (95% of the time the gate is closed and locked). You also won't be able to drive here between late fall and mid-late May due to snow.
Established in 1941, the first structure was a 24' pole live-in tower north of the present tower, which was constructed in 1959. It is a 67' treated timber tower with live-in cabin on top. From the current tower you'll walk north along the ridgetop, where you will pass the site of the original tower (watch out for rusty nails). You can also pick out where the garage used to sit.
High Ridge has been an emergency ("as needed") lookout for many years, but has seen quite a bit of use in recent years. The view includes Table Rock Lookout and Spout Springs ski area to the northeast, the Eagle Cap Wilderness to the southeast, the Grande Ronde Valley and Mt. Emily to the south, Goodman Ridge lookout to the southwest, and the Columbia Basin to the west. On a clear day you can see the Tri-Cities and even to the Cascades, including Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier (I've only been able to see these two mountains near sunset from here).
The cache is a clear, round plastic container. It has a logbook, writing instruments, and some trading items.