Forest is the dominant biome in Glacier National Park. Different formation groups occur depending on local moisture and temperature conditions. To the west of the Divide, trees common to the northwestern portion of the United States reach their eastern-most limit. These include trees such as western hemlock, western cedar, western white pine, western larch, Douglas fir, western paper birch and quaking aspen (Carrara, 1989). Trees in the subalpine zone include subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, subalpine larch and whitebark pine (Carrara, 1989). Forests east of the Divide include lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, Douglas fir, limber pine, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce (Carrara, 1989). Trees in the subalpine zone include subalpine fir and Englemann spruce (Carrara, 1989).

According to Carrara & McGimsey (1981), the forest trimline separates mature coniferous forests from scattered, small stunted conifers of subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce, and this occurs at approximately 2000 meters (6562 feet). The tree line occurs at about 2050 meters (6726 feet), above which occurs tundra vegetation consisting of grasses and herbs (Carrara, 1989).

Created March 12, 1999 by Karen A. Lemke (klemke@uwsp.edu). Last updated March 12, 1999 by KAL.
The URL for this page is http:/www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/lemke/gnp_vft/general_information/vegetation.html