About our tree planting program.
Elk Mountain is committed to maintaining the beauty of the natural terrain of the Endless Mountains. Elk Mountain’s tree planting program dates back to the late 1970’s. See what makes our tree planting program special. Read on!

We’ve matured and harvested thousands of trees on our mountain
Elk Mountain’s tree planting program dates back to the late 1970’s. Since then, we’ve planted over 30,000 trees, with more trees being planted each year. Every two to three years, we purchase 2,000 to 3,000 White and Norway Spruce trees and plant them in our tree farm. It takes 10 to 12 years for the trees to mature and at that point, 600 to 1,000 trees are transplanted to the slopes each year after existing hardwoods are harvested.

Why White and Norway Spruce?
They have proven to be extremely resilient and can spring back from the weight of significant snowfall without damage. They also have a spreading root and establish themselves well in Elk’s rocky terrain.

Why replace the hardwoods with White and Norway Spruce trees? Aside from the aesthetic benefits, the trees themselves function as a wind break for the ride on the chair lifts and because of that function, hold the snow that we make and that Mother Nature provides in place on the slopes.

Learn More About What Makes Our Snow Different