Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort typically cranks it up in November and stays open into April (see calendar). The family-run ski resort is arguably the best kept powder secret in the country.

The Rock Garden chair lift serves twenty-one runs that drop over 1000 vertical feet. The dry climate in eastern Oregon, coupled with the 9,000-foot peaks of the Elkhorn Range result in a powder so dry the Anthony Lakes crew has to occasionally water it down around the lifts.

Nestled between Baker City and La Grande, this little-known mountain riders’ hideaway called is located just 19 miles west of I-84. Locals know it as the place without lift lines, where the average annual snowfall in 300 inches.

If you like to take in the scenic views at a slower pace, you can cross-country ski or snowshoe on more than 30 km of groomed trails through the Anthony Lakes Basin and Elkhorn Range of the Blue Mountains.

Want a little something different? A Cat-ski operator and full guide service leads adventure seekers into the backcountry bowls and chutes within sight of lift-accessed groomers. At $39 for a day pass, even a post-golf afternoon in the spring is worth the easy 35-mile drive from Baker City.

Grab a snack at the Nordic Center or head back to the main lodge for lunch in the cafeteria. Or, after a half-dozen runs you may find yourself having a beer and burger at the Starbottle’s Bar watching spring training baseball on the big screen or listening to live music.