![National Park Service Logo](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/templates/images/graphics/parkblackband.gif) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/templates/images/graphics/blkshim.gif) |
![National Park Service: U.S. Department of the Interior](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/templates/images/graphics/prntarrw.gif) ![National Park Service Arrowhead](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/templates/images/graphics/prnttitl.gif) |
|
|
|
Olympic National Park
Montane Forests
|
|
|
|
|
|
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/templates/images/graphics/spacer.gif) |
![Forest fire burns dark tree trunks and along ground on a steep slope Forest fire burns dark tree trunks and along ground on a steep slope](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/images/burningsnags150.jpg) |
Lightning-caused fire burns in a montane Douglas-fir stand in the steep Little River valley of the park. |
![](images/spacer.gif) |
As you climb from river valleys toward the peaks you enter the montane zone, where new characters enter the forest stage. Montane forest begins at about 1,500–2,000 feet and transitions into subalpine forests at about 4,000 feet. On the wetter west side of the park, silver fir becomes a major player along side western hemlock. On the drier east side silver fir enters, but only on cooler, north-facing slopes. On sunny, south-facing slopes, Douglas-fir and western hemlock dominate and fire plays an active role in creating a mosaic of different-aged forest.
These forests cover thousands of acres of Olympic National Park’s mountain slopes where growing conditions are more challenging than the lowlands. Montane trees grown more slowly, but many are still centuries old. In fact, a 12-foot wide record Alaska yellow cedar grows in montane forest above the North Fork Quinault River.
Where to See Montane Forest
The Hurricane Ridge and Deer Park roads both traverse montane forest enroute to the mountains. All trails that lead to the high country also cross the montane zone.
|
![beams of sunlight penetrate fog on dense forested slope beams of sunlight penetrate fog on dense forested slope](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/images/minklkforest285.jpg) |
Sunlight in misty montane forest near Mink Lake, Sol Duc valley. |
![](images/spacer.gif) |
Common Trees
Alaska yellow-cedar – Chaemaecyparis nootkatensis
Douglas-fir – Pseudotsuga menziesii
Silver fir – Abies amabilis
Western hemlock – Tsuga heterophylla
Western redcedar – Thuja plicata
Common Shrubs
Salal – Gaultheria shallon
Oregon grape – Berberis nervosa
Huckleberries – Vaccinium sp.
Fool’s huckleberry – Menziesia ferruginea
Devil’s club – Oplopanx horridus
Pacific rhododendron – Rhododendron macrophyllum (primarily east side forests)
Bearberry – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Common Wildflowers
Coralroot – Corallorhiza mertensiana
Bunchberry – Cornus unalaschkensis
Bead lily – Clintonia uniflora
Evergreen violet – Viola sempervirens
Goatsbeard – Aruncus dioicus
Pyrola – Pyrola sp.
|
| | |
|
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/templates/images/graphics/spacer.gif) |
|
|
|
|
![snow covered forest and meadow snow covered forest and meadow](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513111435im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/OLYM_OLYM_snow3.jpg) |
|
Did You Know?
That endemic Olympic snow moles are scurrying beneath this blanket of snow? Olympic National Park's Hurricane Ridge is blanketed with over ten feet of snow for most of the winter, providing water for summer and protection for snow moles in winter.
|
|
|
|
Last Updated: July 25, 2006 at 00:22 EST |