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Recess on the winter playground of Eastern Oregon
By JENNIFER COLTON
Eastern Oregon has been
touched, blanketed and, in some
cases, pummeled with winter
weather this season, and the snow
has created great opportuni es for
winter recrea on ac vi es. So pack
up the kids and head outdoors!
Sledding
One of the best introduc ons to
winter sports is also one of the sim-
plest: sledding! The city of Herm-
iston off ers sledding right down-
town with a sledding hill under the
“Union High” arch off Northeast
Second Street. The hill is at the
former school loca on and fully
fenced off from all vehicular traffi c.
Another designated snow area is in
the Uma lla Na onal Forest. Near
Tollgate, Andies Prairie – about 26
miles east of Weston
or 14 miles northwest
of Elgin – is the only
designated sledding and
winter camping area
in the Blue Mountains.
Motorized vehicles are
not allowed in the sled-
ding area from Dec. 1
through April 1. The For-
est Service also main-
tains the Rose Springs
site, 15 miles south of
Pomeroy, Washington.
Snowmobiling
If you’re looking for
something a li le faster,
and a li le more adven-
turous than sledding, Eastern Or-
egon has numerous snowmobiling
trails, and, during the winter, closed
forest roads are accessible by snow-
mobile within the Uma lla Na onal
Forest – as long as riders are aware
of skiiers and snowshoers.
In the Wallowa-Whitman Na on-
al Forest, the Blue Mountains North
and Grande Ronde River Basin Area
off er developed recrea on sites
and trails across the northern Blue
Mountains near La Grande. If your
family is up for more of a drive,
Baker County off ers more than 900
miles of snowmobile trails, includ-
ing many in Sumpter, Halfway and
Unity. The U.S. Forest Service does
off er motorized recrea on use
maps for trails and more informa-
on for each site. These are avail-
able at your local Forest Service
offi ce.
Downhill skiing and snowboarding
Although Spout Springs Ski Area
is currently closed, there are a
couple other nearby op ons. With
the slogan “Same as it ever was,”
Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort
specializes in skiing, snowboarding,
and all sorts of winter recrea on.
Anthony Lakes is located
just outside of North
Powder on the other
side of the Blue Moun-
tains. For more informa-
on on Anthony Lakes,
you can call 541-856-
3277 or visit the resort’s
web page.
Along with Spout
Springs, the Uma lla
Na onal Forest over-
sees another ski area
in the Blue Mountains:
Ski Bluewood, which
operates under special
use permits and off ers
downhill skiing from late
November through early
April. You can check its website
(bluewood.com) or Facebook page
for more informa on and snow
condi ons.
Cross-country skiing
and snowshoeing
Although much of the a rac-
on of cross-country (a.k.a. Nordic)
skiing and snowshoeing are the op-
portuni es to travel off the beaten
bath, there are designated trails
throughout Eastern Oregon forest
lands. The Nordic trail systems are
marked with blue, diamond-shaped
markers and primarily follow exist-
ing roads. The 7-mile Horseshoe
Prairie trail, 7 miles south of Toll-
gate, and the 12-mile Meacham
Divide trail system, 37 miles east of
Pendleton, remain popular. The lat-
ter is groomed by the Blue Moun-
tain Nordic Club; details are online
at new.onc.org/bmnc.
________
Jennifer Colton is news director of
KOHU and KQFM, and mother of
three, based in Pendleton.