Often, trails climb from the forested valleys into subalpine scrub, eventually reaching alpine ridges and meadows. This ecoregion has a combination of climate, landforms and vegetation distinct from the other ecoregions of the Yukon. It consists generally of relatively low elevation terrain, such as the Teslin Plateau and parts of the Lewes and Nisutlin plateaux. Mountains of the Big Salmon Range in the north may reach 6000 feet above sea level, but generally the landscape lies between 2000 feet and 4500 feet. The waters of the Watson, Wheaton, Ibex and Takhini rivers all eventually join the Yukon River in this ecoregion at the start of its 3200 km journey to the Bering Sea.
Northern soils are generally nutrient poor.
Low amounts of rainfall also mean slower weathering of vital soil minerals from the glacially-deposited rocks. These coarse glacial materials underlie most of the local soils, adding to a plant's difficulty in acquiring water throughout the season. The temperature of the soil is also a major limiting factor. Plants must grow, flower and seed during those few months when the soil is warm enough. For example, local trees achieve most of their growth in June.