At higher elevations the subalpine forest covers most of the landscape. Among the trees are open meadows that occur in valley bottoms, parkland areas and on lower, gently sloping ground.
Alpine meadows are common where prolonged snowmelt keeps the soil moist all summer.
Herbaceous plants, such as Sitka valerian, Arctic lupine and alpine paintbrush, provide a beautiful floral display in the summer months. Moist grasslands are limited, but occur in drier regions where giant wildrye, balsamroot and mariposa lily commonly grow on south-facing slopes. In the moist subalpine climate wildfires are uncommon and many forests are old, with trees ranging in size and age. As a result, the undergrowth is lush, with many ferns, wildflowers and shrubs growing over the moss carpet. Hawthorn berries ripen in August and September.