Some days, you'll see more ghosts than people.

Easily the most iconic phenomenon at Whitefish Mountain Resort, "snow ghosts" are frozen evergreen trees found across the slopes of Big Mountain each winter. Encased in layers of ice and snow, they grow into funky shapes and take on a ghostly, otherworldly appearance.

Snow ghosts are most common in the Pacific Northwest, especially in our corner of Northwest Montana and British Columbia. And Whitefish may be the best place to spot one of these apparitions!

How do snow ghosts form?

A common misconception is that snow ghosts are simply covered with snow, as the name suggests. They're actually encased in layers of rime, a kind of ice that forms when supercooled moisture in the air collides with a cold surface, prompting rapid crystallization or freezing.

Air gets trapped between the water particles as as they freeze, causing rime ice to be lower-density and opaque white, like snow. At Whitefish Mountain Resort, you might see rime formed on trees, buildings, chairlifts, rocks and any other objects exposed to the right weather conditions.

Snow ghosts form best when we have overcast skies, cold temperatures and mild winds. Big Mountain is the perfect place for these conditions, with plenty of moist air and cold temperatures due to our region's unique climate.

In the middle of winter, you can see trees almost entirely encased in rime and snow, especially at upper elevations of the mountain. The Summit House, the Ptarmigan Bowl and the East Rim are good bets if you want to see these specters. They make for some surreal scenery!

Come up on a weekday and you might just see more ghosts than people! And while you're here, take a ride on our six-seater chairlift, the Snow Ghost Express, and pop in to Snow Ghost Outfitters to shop a collection of outdoor gear, clothing and souvenirs!