UPDATED Nov 2013: NWTRA is looking into a ride weekend in the Desolation OHV system. We are working with the Forest Service on a special permit to use the specific sections of Forest Service Road 10. The 10 road is normally closed to all non-street legal vehicles. Our permit would be in conjunction with our planned ride event only. The first event will be a limited number event in 2014. See below the ride report from 2012 on Dual Sports.
The Desolation OHV Trail System is a Class I and III rated system located 17miles SE of Dale Oregon in the southern portion of the Umatilla National Forest. It is managed by the Ukiah-Dale district office with the Winom-Frazier OHV Complex.
Let me get the negative items out of the way first.
1: The shortest distance into Desolation OHV Trail System and Welch Creek Campground is 15miles on the gravel Forest Service 10 road. To get to the 10 road, you go past Ukiah turnoff on 395 toward Dale. One mile north of Dale the 55 road takes off to the east. Forest Service 10 is just one mile down 55 to the right (south). From there it is a well travelled, 1 1/2 lane gravel road with its share of elevation changes and wash-boarding.
2: The 10 Road is CLOSED to OHV traffic. So if it isn’t licensed for the street, no travelling on the 10 Road. This is a problem as a number of the trails have one of their ends on the 10 Road and their is no inter-connecting trails (YET! The Forest Service is showing interest in getting these interconnects made 11/2013).
That was the 2 major negative things, now on to the positive. Once you are there the trails have good tread conditions and are pretty casual to ride, plus they offer some nice views of an area that really does not live up to the name “Desolation”. In addition, Welch Creek Campground is a nice slightly improved official (read: Fee) campground with good access and views of Desolation Creek. Further down the 10 Road are a number of dispersed “no name” campgrounds that offer cool shade and privacy.
The system has two parts. A north part, made up of trail Welch Creek (3030), Battle Creek (3004), Bull Praire(3003), Howard Creek (3005) & Skinner-Diggins (3013) and the south part made up of the Beeman Junkins Creek (3015) and Sharps Ridge (3026).
Beeman Junkins (3015): Traveling from Welch Creek Campground you first cross over one of the longest trail bridges in the Ukiah district over Desolation Creek. You then follow the creek downstream to were the trail picks up the 1007 road, this road narrows and changes to the 070 road as it climbs the ridge til the road ends and some more real trail begins. 
This connects to the 3988 Road, but quickly splits , the north side being the 070 road again, but shortly the real Beeman Junkins trail begins. Winding up through the trees the trail opens to allow some great views of the Desolation valley. Across the peaks even the Desolation lookout is visible. The trees thin as out as you climb to the top of the ridge and come to the evidence of the Desolation Fire (20xx). The trail through the fire zone meanders around, eventually leading back into the trees. Markings for this trail indicate that it is easy and I believe that is true in comparison to the easy trails on Winom Frazier. The trail ends at the Sharps Ridge Trail (3026) junction. The Sharps Ridge route to the northwest is designated as Easy. This road route is not very well marked at this time and it is not a road to take anything but a high clearance vehicle on in some spots.
Sharps Ridge (3026): This trail is the only black diamond in the system. It connects the Beeman Junkens Creek Trail/Sharps Ridge junction to the 45 road to the east. On either end, the top or the bottom, the trail’s ease will make you think it was mis-marked. Until you get to the major climb (or drop). This monster is a challenge with its large boulder stroon twisty route, that due to its steep nature would prove terrifying to the new riders and those not HIGHLY skilled on a four wheeler. The concern is having the back end meet the front end on a four wheeler going down. It is not that long, but makes any of the climbs on the Black Diamond Short Cable (3024) look easy.
Welch Creek (3030): This is the other trail out of Welch Creek Campground and Trail Head. The first part follows the old 150 road. The biggest challenge here is watching out for the Cows! It eventually turns into some pretty decent trail. 
At the top is the junctions for the remainder of Welch Creek Trail going to the 130 road and the Battle Creek trail.
Battle Creek (3004): Soon after the junction with Welch Creek, there is another junction with Bull Prairie (3003). On our ride we took the Battle Creek fork, so I cannot report on Bull Prairie. This trail was also in great condition, with a few rocky parts with a couple of wet meadows, a number of bridge crossing and at the end a steeper rocky down pitch down to the 10 Road.
Howard Creek (3005): On the bottom end a wet type meadow trail through the trees that climbs out through water bars to a decent little pea-gravel climb to top out on the 1010 Road. This road is open to OHV traffic and allows connection back to Bull Prairie, Southeast to Skinner-Diggins, Desolation lookout and returning to the 10 Road.
Skinner-Diggins (3013): A nicely cut back and tread notched into the hillside ride that ends in a nice “no name” dispearsed campground on the 10 Road.
The majority of these trails in the Desolation OHV Trail System are in great shape and beg to be ridden. The Tree canopy is mostly intact, with Beeman Junkins at the east end being the exception. All of these trails, are a great ride and remind of us of the Winom-Frazier prior to the fire and re-growth. Sharps Ridge eastern 1.9 mile leg provides a significant trail riding challenge that really gets the adrenalin flowing. This system really worked well for having a dual-sport, as the 10 Road was not a problem. But if you had to double back on these northern trails of the system, it would not take away from the enjoyment. Bite the bullet and drive the 10 Road with your RV, and visit the Desolation OHV Trail System, NWTRA is going to in 2014.