Not that we need to be adding any more winter recreation options for Andies Prairie, but there is some good beginner backcountry skiing not too far from the snopark. From the parking, you beeline past the sledding hill and across the prairie until you meet the groomed snowmobile trail and follow that up to the ridge and both sides can be skied. It takes about 25-30 minutes of skinning to get to the top. Some slopes are low angle enough that I was snowmobile towing the family for some laps. The shallow slopes allow for nearly no avalanche danger and good learning for beginners. They are skiable because they have been logged and thinned. There is a lot of timber and downed trees so make sure the snow cover is good before trying this. Fortunately, this area can get loads of snow generated by the uplift out of the canyon. These slopes are also ripped up by snowmobiles so your best backcountry experience will be mid-week after some snowfall.
For additional opportunities at Andies Prairie see the winter recreation guide. There are also some other places that can be backcountry skied in the Umatilla River North Fork drainage.
