Two-thirds of Washington lies east of the Cascade Crest, and includes more ranges like the Blue Mountains and the Selkirks. Here’s a quick look at the “far east,” otherwise known as Washington's Inland Empire.

Mount Spokane State Park (509-238-4258) beckons just a half-hour drive from eastern Washington’s largest city, Spokane. Drink in grand vistas reaching across Idaho into Montana as you downhill ski, or follow 25 km of Nordic trails (watch for deer, elk, and moose).

An hour drive north of Spokane via U.S. Highway 395 in the Selkirk Mountains is another resort called 49 Degrees North. Voted “best family area in the Pacific Northwest” by Inlander Magazine, this resort simply has it all--powder snow, no-waiting downhill lifts, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing! (509-382-2877)

In the extreme southeast corner of the state, near the Blue Mountains, travelers will find Fields Spring State Park, and facilities for Nordic skiing, sledding and inner-tubing on 4,450-foot Puffer Butte. Also in the “Blues” is Ski Bluewood, a downhill and snowboard resort well-known locally for great powder, 21 miles southeast of Dayton.

You can snowmobile practically from your motel door into the snowy vastness of Okanogan National Forest from several towns along U.S. 97 in north central Washington. Choose from the 400 miles of snowmobile trail leading into the wilds. Some motels offer packages that include your snow machine!