Park Forests

PARK FORESTS

Fred B. Hodgson, Park Ranger Floyd A. Henderson, Park Ranger

From the dawn of history forests have aroused in man a variety of conflicting emotions. He has feared their dark pathways, yet traveled them in search of game. They have furnished fuel and wood for his home, yet occupied land needed for his crops. He has fought them with axe and fire, yet enjoyed thepeacefulness of their cool depths. Perhaps this paradoxical association over centuries of time is responsible for the unmistakable appeal they hold for us today. The stately, verdant forests of the valleys and lower mountain slopes, and the twisted, weather-beaten trees of the higher and arid regions are an integral part of the scenic beauty of Glacier National Park.

Trees as individuals may be sturdy and strong, or delicate and weak; many are dependent upon others growing in association with them, while a few get along quite well growing by themselves. Forests are communities of trees in which there is a constant struggle for the advantages of light, soil, and moisture, and against the ravages of disease, insects, fire and storm. A lone tree growing on a wind swept hill is very similar to the sturdy frontiersman on the edge of civilization making his fight against the wilderness. Not far away a small group of stunted trees might readily be pictured as a frontier village containing tough and wiry individuals, and finally the large expanse of forest, with its great variety of trees, as a city where those not suited to endure the hardships of frontier life live together where once the more rugged struggled.

Among the many factors affecting the growth or very existence of trees are soil, moisture, temperature and light. The type, size and condition of a tree or forest is indicative of the soil and climatic condition of the area in which it is found. Hence, in Glacier National Park the contrast will be noted between the exuberant growth of beautiful trees common to the moist Pacific slopes and the slower growing, smaller trees of the more arid east side.

Upon entering the Park at the West Entrance, one finds himself in a forest belonging to the lower Canadian Zone. Here are larches, firs, lodgepole, and white pines, interspersed with paper birch, cottonwood and alder. It will be noted that coniferous or evergreen trees are predominant. This is characteristic of western forests, while those east of the Mississippi River contain a great variety of deciduous or hardwood trees.

North of the West Entrance Checking Station is a dense growth of small trees with yellow-green foliage. These are young lodgepole pine which have grown to their present size since 1929. This pine grows best in sunlight and thrives even in semi-arid areas. It is one of the first trees to replace a forest that has been burned. When grown in dense stands it becomes very tall and slender and is used by the Indians to make the poles that form the framework for their lodges, thus its name "Lodgepole pine".

The large trees scattered here and there among the small pines are Western larch. They too grow well in sunlight and many young trees may be seen along the roadside. The very finest examples of larch trees are found along the tributaries of the Flathead River.

Along the shore of beautiful Lake McDonald and on up to Avalanche Creek is a typical Pacific slope forest composed of moisture loving trees such as the cedar, larch and hemlock. The stately white pine with its soft green needles, the Lodgepole, and the sharp needled spruce are also present. The fern-like foliage of the cedar, the flat, lacey boughs of the hemlock, the snow white bark of the paper birch and the massive cottonwood all contribute to the joyful beauty of this forest community.

Occasionally will be seen a sprawling evergreen shrub with yellowish-green needles. This is the yew, the wood of which was once prized by the Indians for making bows. On either side of the Snyder Creek bridge are splendid examples of cottonwood easily recognized by the dark grey, deeply furrowed bark and broad, green leaves. In front of Lake McDonald Hotel in the circular lawn is a large bush. This is a mountain maple, a cousin to the maples that grow as timber size trees in eastern forests. Between the hotel and Lake McDonald are a few lovely birch and the evergreens on either side of the walk are spruce. Notice the white paper-like bark of the birch and the angular, sharp needles of the spruce.

As Avalanche Creek is passed there is a gradual change of forest type. The cedar and hemlock become fewer in number and finally the forest is composed mainly of white pine, spruce, fir and Douglas fir. Here at the very limits of its eastern range the Western White Pine reaches proportions not found elsewhere in the park.

Ponderosa pine, known to many as Western Yellow pine, will not be seen along the Park Highways. However, it is an important park tree and is one of great size and beauty. White pine, Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are important commercial trees. However, forests of the national parks are not exploited for commercial purposes, and the value of all trees is based upon their aesthetic worth.

From the Heavens Peak tunnel to the Park Service Road Camp No. 9 the Canadian zone is crossed. Here the cedar and hemlock are missing, the predominant trees being Douglas fir, Alpine fir and spruce. As the higher elevations are reached the trees become smaller in size and fewer in number.

Continuing on to Logan Pass the entrance into the Hudsonian zone is evidenced by the stunted growth of the trees. The light green color of the maple and alder shrubs streak the mountain sides where they are growing in small ravines or snowslide tracks. Often great snowslides pass over these shrubs, but being flexible they are not snapped off by the enormous force as would be the larger, more rigid trees.

The patches of small evergreens in the meadows around Logan Pass are mostly Alpine firs. They are small, but not young and are constantly struggling with the elements for a meager existence. Here spring comes late and winter early, making a very short growing season. Many of these trees are buried in snow from November to May.

Leaving Logan Pass and until Siyeh Creek is reached the Hudsonian forms are still very evident, but soon the lower elevations are reached and again a forest is entered. How different it is from the Pacific slope type of the Lake McDonald Valley! The great variety of trees is lacking and in their stead are often large areas of pure stands of Lodgepole pine. Soon this forest changes to a spruce fir type as the mountain is descended.

Near Sunrift Gorge on the south slopes Douglas fir grows in almost pure stands that are interspersed with grassy openings. This and the forest on up to Siyeh Creek are of the type generally encountered throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Douglas fir is the predominant tree from Sun Chalets down to Roes Creek; it forms the cover for the East Glacier Campground. Also in this vicinity several Limber pine may be seen. Trees in this and similar localities are often twisted into fantastic shapes due to prevailing winds and slow growth. Thus along the lake shore and in unprotected areas many trees have more and larger limbs on their leeward side.

Below Roes Creek are aspen woods and grassy areas. This is the zone between the forested hills and the grass land of the prairie.

Descending Looking-Glass Hill, going north along the Blackfeet Highway, the interesting relationship of forest life to elevation is declared. As the grassy plains are broken and rise toward the mountains willow and aspen grow in association, with here and there a cottonwood in the more sheltered and moist situations. Above these wooded areas will be seen the dense coniferous forests spreading over the hillsides, becoming sparse and stunted as they climb to the base of the rocky peaks.

Upon crossing the Milk River valley and climbing the Hudson Bay hill, past aspen woods, a lodgepole forest is entered and as was the case on the descent from Siyeh Creek the type changes to spruce and fir and then to Douglas fir as St. Mary is approached. Here again the type changes to aspen and cottonwood.

An almost paralleled situation is found in driving from Kennedy Creek over the Chief Mountain International Highway. The willow, aspen and cottonwood gradually give way to a coniferous forest as the hill is climbed and upon descending into Canada one again finds himself passing through aspen groves that fade into grassy slopes extending eastward to the plains.

The Pines

There are five species of pines in Glacier National Park. All but one species may be seen from the highway. The fifth, Ponderosa pine, occurs in scattered patches throughout the lower elevations of the North Fork drainage.

Pines may be readily distinguished from other evergreens by the arrangement of their leaves or needles which are borne near the end of the twigs in bundles of two to five. These bundles or fascicles are formed by a paper-like wrapping at the base of the needles. The needles, so grouped, give the pine branches a tufted appearance. The number of needles in a fascicle is generally constant for each species and serves as a means of distinguishing some kinds of pines from others.

Western white pine - Pinus Monticola

The botanical name of this tree means Mountain pine and it is sometimes so called. The fine, slender needles, five in a bundle, are blue-green in color and from 2 to 4 inches long. The bark on young trees is smooth and light gray. On old trees it darkens to a purplish tinge and checks into regular squares or rectangles. The slender, thin-scaled cones are from six to ten inches long (the cones of Western white pine are the longest found in the park) and are borne on the upper branches. Mature trees in the park often attain heights of 100 feet and occasionally reach 150 feet. They are characteristically clean-boled with little taper. The crown of short brushy branches occupies the upper half of the tree. Diameters of mature trees ordinarily vary from 1 to 3 feet; however, a few are larger. The range of Western white pine in Glacier National Park is limited to the lower elevations of the west side and occurs only occasionally north of Dutch Creek. It grows most abundantly in the upper McDonald valley where it is found in association with fir and spruce although it occurs in mixture with other park conifer. Two fine specimens may be observed a short distance off the Going-to-the-Sun Highway on the Packer's Roost road.

Limber pine - Pinus Flexilis and Whitebark Pine - Pinus albicaulis

Somewhat similar to the Western white pine are the limber and whitebark pines, found on the east side and above 5,000 feet elsewhere in the park. Generally speaking, the limber pine is more abundant at middle elevations; the range of the whitebark extends through the Hudsonian Zone, where it occurs as a stunted timberline tree. The two trees otherwise are distinguished from each other with difficulty, unless they are bearing mature cones. Those of the limber pine are yellowish-green in color, while those of the Whitebark are purple. The branches are very limber and can be tied into a tight knot without breaking. The crowns are loose and bushy; the foliage is dark yellow to grey-green, having considerably more blue than the lodgepole pines, the only other pine with which they are associated. The foliage is densely set at the ends of branches. The leaves, one and one-half to three inches long, are set five needles in a bundle. The bark of old limber pines becomes blackish with deep furrows; on old whitebark pines it is little broken except near the base of the tree.

Ponderosa pine - Pinus ponderosa

Ponderosa pine, though not encountered by the bus driver on his regular runs, is an important inhabitant of the park. Its stout needles, in bundles of three (occasionally two), are from 5 to 11 inches long and persist on the branches for three years. The light brown cones are 3 to 6 inches long and cone scales are armed with prickles. The bark is nearly black on trees up to 12 or 14 inches. On larger trees the bark is a cinnamon red and deeply divided into large plates 4 to 8 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches long. This tree, in the park, grows up to 3½ feet in diameter and 140 feet high. It occurs in pure stands or mixed with Lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, Englemann spruce and Western larch. It may be observed along the North Fork Truck Trail from Anaconda Creek to Kintla Lake. The most beautiful stand of Ponderosa pine in the park is on this road between Anaconda and Logging Creeks.

Lodgepole pine - Pinus contorta

One of the most characteristic trees of the Rocky Mountains is Lodgepole pine. It grows in various forms from sea level to 11,000 feet and from Lower California almost to Alaska and is the most abundant tree in the park. Lodgepole pine bears its needles 2 in a bundle; they are yellow-green in color and generally about 2 inches long, though sometimes they may be found as short as 1 inch or as long as 4 inches. The small, hard cones persist on the tree for many years and often remain closed. It is not uncommon for trees less than 15 years old to bear cones and the species is known as a prolific seeder. In youth the tree grows rapidly in pure dense stands, it withstands crowding from the sides but is very intolerant of overhead shade. From this one can readily understand why it grows so slender and clean-boled. It never reaches a large size. Heights seldom exceed 70 to 80 feet and diameters are generally less than eighteen inches in mature stands.

In Rocky Mountain forests Lodgepole pine ranks first as a "fire" tree--that is, when an area is swept by fire this pine reseeds and restocks the ground in greater abundance than any other species. The reasons for this are apparent: When a fire passes through the forest many of the tightly closed Lodgepole cones escape the fire or are merely scorched. The heat, however, is sufficient to open the scales and almost before the ground has cooled thousands of seeds are fluttering down. Other cones buried in the litter on the forest floor may have lain, their scales closed and seeds dormant, for many years. Then, opened by the heat, the cones free the seeds which germinate the next spring. Finally the blackened earth seems to form an ideal seed bed for this species and within a few years, under favorable conditions, the scar left by the fire has been at least partially erased by the green of thrifty Lodgepole saplings. When a stand of Lodgepole reaches maturity, instead of young trees of this species replacing dying veterans, we find an encroachment of spruce, fir or some other species and an almost total lack of healthy Lodgepole reproduction. It is apparent then that Lodgepole pine seldom succeeds itself except after fires and it is safe to assume that most pure stands of Lodgepole pine are indirectly the result of fire. Thus the term "fire species" - a tree whose role in nature seems to be one of protection and preparation. It first restocks the barren ground left by fire protecting it from erosion, then prepares a site for other species to gain a foothold. Lodgepole pine is found throughout the timbered portion of Glacier Park except at the extreme upper elevations.

This species is commonly attacked by a bark beetle (dendroctonus monticola). The numerous larvae of this insect eat the cambium tissues leaving horizontal "mines" which girdle the tree, cutting off the flow of sap and resulting in the death of the tree. In many Rocky Mountain forests from 60 to 90 percent of mature Lodgepole stands have been wiped out by this pest during the period 1910 to 1933.

The Larches

Every rule has an exception - the larches are the exception to the pine family - unlike other conifers the leaves do not persist throughout the year. Each fall the soft, short needles of the larches turn yellow and fall. In the spring the new pale green needles reappear borne on conspicuous spur-like shoots in clusters of 12 to 40. There are three species of larch native to the United States, two of which grow in the park.

Western larch - Larix occidentalis

Western larch is known locally as Tamarack. This name, however, belongs rightfully to Larix laricina, another species which grows north and east of us.

The bus driver can easily recognize Western larch by its pale, feathery foliage, its deeply furrowed, cinnamon colored bark, the tapering limb-free trunk and short, open, pyramidal crown. The cones are small, 1 to 1½ inches long, and each scale is overlaid by a slender elongated bract. The species is known as a rapid grower and a prolific seeder. Trees over 100 feet high and 3 feet in diameter are common, a few reaching 180 feet. The thick bark and clean-bole protect the tree against fire; like Lodgepole pine it is intolerant of shade and comes in after fires.

The range of Western larch is limited to southeastern British Columbia, eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, northern Idaho and that part of Montana west of the Continental Divide. Found throughout the west side of the park in the Transition and Canadian Zones this species occurs in mixture with other conifers. When mixed with Ponderosa pine one must sometimes look to the tree crowns as a means of separating the two species because of the similarity of their bark. Occasionally larch is found east of the Continental Divide, most notably on the west side of Waterton Lake and in the Roes Creek drainage.

Alpine larch - Larix lyalli

Near timberline, in small scattered groups, the rare Alpine larch occurs. Its foliage is similar to the Western larch but the branchlets are hairy and the cones are larger. It is a small and often stunted tree, but its brilliant green foliage forms a striking contrast to the bare rock ledges where it is commonly found. It has been chosen as the official tree of Glacier National Park and may be seen nearest a highway at Preston Park, above the switchback on Siyeh Creek.

The Spruces

Two species of spruce are indigenous to the park. Their foliage, cones and needles are so similar that the bus driver need not distinguish one from the other. The spruces may be recognized from other conifers by their short, sharp, four-angled needles which grow singly upon the twigs. When these needles fall the twig is left rough by the resulting raised scars. Spruce have papery-scaled cones generally visible hanging from the upper branches.

Englemann Spruce - Picia englemannii

From the park boundaries to timberline, on either side of the Continental Divide, Englemann spruce is an important forest constituant. Under optimum conditions it is a large, rapidly tapering tree with a close short crown, but frequently it is found with branches almost to the ground. At timberline it may appear almost shrublike.

The bark of Englemann spruce varies from a dark purplish-brown to a russet red and is broken into thin, small, loose scales. The branches are in regular whorls, generally drooping, then turning upwards at the ends. In the upper elevations it is found in pure stands and at the lower elevations in varied mixtures and associations. Along the Middle Fork and North Fork Rivers are picturesque spruce-cottonwood associations. Englemann spruce foliage is often bluish in color and may easily be mistaken for Blue spruce. However, the latter species is not native to Montana or Glacier National Park.

White spruce - Picea canadensia

This tree occurs transcontinentally in Canada and is common in the Lake and New England states. It is found in the Rocky Mountains only in northern Montana and has been identified in Glacier National Park. Its distribution here is limited to the west side, but its exact range in the park is not definitely known. Because of the similarity of Englemann and white spruce and because of the far greater abundance of Englemann spruce, the bus driver is safe in referring to any spruce encountered along the highway as Englemann.

Western hemlock - Tsuga heterophylla

Along the shore of Lake McDonald the observing bus driver will note the pleasing effect of the dark green, shelf-like boughs of young hemlock under the lighter green canopy of cedar and larch. The soft, flat needles are very short, 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch long and crowded. They are dark green and lustrous above and silvery below. Cones are small, generally less than an inch in length. The tree at maturity is from 40 to 60 feet tall (occasionally taller) and less than 2 feet in diameter.

Western hemlock is a Pacific Coast tree and grows from northern California to southern Alaska. In Glacier National Park its range is limited almost entirely to the lower elevations of McDonald valley.

Douglas fir - Pseudotsuga taxifolia

The botanical name tells how confused the botanist must have been when he classified Douglas fir, a loose translation of which means "false hemlock with yew-like leaves".

This species varies greatly in form and size and has a wide elevational and geographic range.

In youth the tree has much the same appearance as a true fir and at maturity it resembles a spruce. Fortunately for the amateur naturalist the species bears cones very different from any of its associates. Elongated, three-pointed bracts protrude from between and beyond the cone scales. The long-stemmed cones hang pendant from the branches of the upper half of the crown and vary in length from 1½ to 4½ inches. The needles of Douglas fir are flat, blunt and between 3/4 to 1½ inches long. They are of little help in identification because of their similarity to the true firs. The buds, however, are easily distinguished - they are acute and dark red as opposed to the blunt, paler buds of the firs. The bark is very rough and thick on old trunks. The crown tips are pointed but the base is broad, much more so than spruce or true fir. On the Pacific coast Douglas fir often attains a huge size, being exceeded only by the Sequoias. In the Rocky Mountains, trees 100 feet high are common and they occasionally reach heights of 150 feet. This species grows on both sides of the park, generally in mixture with other conifers.

The True Firs

The firs vary from other conifers in that the cones point upward and the cone scales are deciduous, falling from their central axis or rachis after maturing. Long after the scales have fallen these matchlike stems may be seen pointing upward from the top-most branches. Fir needles are flat and soft to the touch. The horizontal branches are typically short and crowded, and the entire crown tapers abruptly giving the tree a spire-like appearance.

Two firs are native to Glacier National Park but, like the two species of spruce, they are so similar as to be almost inseparable. The firs generally seen along the highway are Alpine fir. Many firs, including Alpine fir, are known as Balsam. However, true Balsam fir is an eastern species from which balsam gum is obtained.

Alpine fir - Abies lasiocarpa

The foliage of Alpine fir is dark green in color and the needles are 1 to 1-3/4 inches long. The cones are 2-1/4 to 4 inches long, dark purple and covered with sticky resin. The buds are short, blunt and yellowish. The smooth blue-gray bark is thickly set with blisters formed by resin. On old trees the bark has a purplish tinge.

Alpine fir, as one would guess from its name, grows at high elevations. Though frequently found at lower altitudes, it is characteristically a timber line tree. Its most common associate is Englemann spruce. Alpine fir ranges throughout the Rocky Mountains from Mexico to Alaska and is common to all forests in Glacier National Park.

Lowland white fir - Abies grandis

This species occurs in the lower elevations on the west side of the park but the trees found here are not typical and do not generally fit the accepted descriptions of the species. Glacier National Park is the eastern limit of its range except for two small areas, one in southeastern Idaho, another in southern Montana where it has been identified. The bus driver, it is hoped, will not be obliged to distinguish this species from Alpine fir which grows typically and abundantly in the park.

The Cedars

The true cedar of the genus Cedrus do not occur in the United States. However, the name Cedar is given to trees of many different genera having aromatic, durable wood. Trees of at least four genera are known as Cedar in the United States. Two of these are represented in Glacier National Park.

Western red cedar - Thuya plicata

The fern-like twigs of Western red cedar are covered with tiny, flat, scale-like, yellowish-green leaves. The cones, borne on all limbs, are very small, usually less than ½ inch and are formed of 8 scales, 6 of which bear seeds. The fast tapering trunk is buttressed at the base and covered with thin, shreddy bark. Western red cedar is easily recognized in the park because of its distinctive foliage.

This is another Pacific Coast tree whose eastern limit is found in Glacier National Park. On the coast it grows to a height of 250 feet and attains diameters up to 15 feet. The trees in the park though sometimes of large size, do not approach such proportions. It is most abundant in the McDonald valley where it is found growing in moist, protected situations of the lower elevations. Western red cedar does not occur east of the divide and is seldom seen north of Howe Ridge.

Rocky Mountain red cedar - Juniperus scopulorum

This species is known locally as Juniper which is really a more fitting name. The tree has scale-like leaves varying in color from brownish-green to dark green. The fruit is a berry-like cone. The trunk is fluted, tapers abruptly and is covered with shreddy gray bark. The crown is long, open and often irregular. Trees seldom exceed 30 feet in height or 1 foot in diameter and except for its smaller size it is almost identical with Eastern red cedar, the juniper from which cedar chests are made.

Trees of this species are found scattered along the North Fork River, a few growing along the Middle Fork. Some individuals are exceptionally long-lived; one tree in Logan Canyon is estimated to be more than 3000 years old.

Pacific yew - Taxus brivifolia

On the Pacific coast this species grows to tree size; in the park it is only a shrub. It may be recognized by its dark, yellow-green leaves less than 1 inch long borne on stiff brown twigs. A good example of yew, as it grows in Glacier National Park, may be observed on the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Highway at the junction of the road to Packer's Roost.

The Poplars

The broadleaved trees of the Rocky Mountains belong principally to the poplar group. Two species are indigenous to Glacier National Park.

Poplars or cottonwoods are in the class of true flowering plants. However, their flowers are inconspicuous, without petals and, unlike the flowers of orchard trees, are single sexed. Furthermore, only the flowers of one sex are found on one tree. Plants so formed are said to be dioecious. The flowers of cottonwood appear before the leaves in pendant aments or catkins. The bark and twigs of aspen and cottonwood are favorite beaver foods.

Aspen - Populus tremuloides

The leaves of aspen are nearly round, from 1 to 3 inches across and are borne on long, thin petioles. They are almost constantly trembling, now showing their pale, dull undersides, now their lustrous, darker upper surfaces. The bark of aspen is greenish-white, smooth, and broken by black, elliptic branch scars. Aspen at a distance may be confused with Paper birch but the difference at close range is readily apparent - birch bark separates into thin, papery layers.

Aspen is perhaps the most widely distributed tree in North America. In the East it is known as Popple. It attains its greatest size in the Rocky Mountains, particularly in Utah. It occurs throughout the park, appearing sometimes twisted and dwarfed, sometimes tall, straight and clean-boled.

Black cottonwood - Popular trichocarpa

The broadly ovate leaves of Black cottonwood are dark green above and pale below. They vary in length from 3 to 4 inches. The bark on young trees is smooth and yellowish white. On old trees it turns ashy gray and is broken into rounded ridges. Black cottonwood is the largest poplar native to North America. Trees 80 to 125 feet high with diameters 3 to 4 feet are common in the park. One specimen at the Quartz Creek bridge on the North Fork Truck Trail has a girth of 18 feet, four and one-half feet from the ground. It is typically a stream bank species and furnishes a welcome contrast to the darker green conifers along the Middle Fork and North Fork Rivers.

Birch and Alder

Like the poplars, birches and alders bear single-sexed flowers. These species, however, bear flowers of both sexes on the same tree and are termed monoecious. The fruits of these trees are small, compact cones which look as though they belonged on an evergreen tree.

Paper birch - Betula papyrifra

This is the tree which furnished bark for the Indians from which they made canoes; hence, it is often called Canoe birch. The bark on young trees and twigs is bronze or orange brown. On older trees it is chalky or creamy white, peeling easily in horizontal strips. Paper birch is a northern species growing from New England to Alaska. Seldom a large tree, heights generally vary from 50 to 70 feet with diameters up to 2 feet. The bole is long, slender and inclined to be curved. In the park its range is generally limited to the west side and to Waterton valley though a few trees are reported growing in Belly River and Many Glacier valley. Paper birch is often found in mixture with spruce or fir and frequently comes in after fire.

Mountain alder - Alnus tenuifolia

Alders, close relatives of the birches, have similar flowers and fruit. Alder cones, however, are woody and persist on the tree throughout the winter. The bark does not peel horizontally as on birch and as Mountain alder it is dull gray in color. Mountain alder seldom grows as a single stemmed tree and most frequently occurs as a large birch. It is a typical streamside species and may be found in any moist situation, particularly in avalanche paths.

Mountain maple - Acer glabum

Our shrubby representative of the maple group is easily distinguished from other park trees. The leaves of this small tree are 3 to 5 lobed, the slender twigs are red in color and are arranged in pairs, one opposite the other. The conspicuous winged seeds (samaras), also in pairs, are attached to the twig by a common stem. Trees are many-stemmed or often a small shrub. Mountain maple grows throughout the Canadian and Hudsonian zones of the Northwest and is common to all timbered portions of the park.