Many are located above timberline, usually around 10,000 feet elevation, and bear a strong resemblance to arctic tundras. These relatively flat plateaus characteristically break off sharply to intervening canyons and steep finger ridges. Plateaus below timber line are characteristically open and grassy. Arctic tundra plateaus such as Beartooth and Hellroaring provide a unique, but extremely fragile, ecosystem. Most of the vegetation can be found around lakes and along stream courses, or in the few small parks situated in the lower areas.
Several plateaus are quite scenic and contain high mountain lakes.
Buttercups, Shooting Stars and other wildflowers literally follow the retreating snowbanks each spring. In the Absarokas spring bloom arrives a little earlier and lasts a little longer. Despite nature's harsh elements, the wilderness still supports a variety of plant communities. From the rock outcrop, snowfields, and alpine ridges that stand high above the forests, grasslands, and mountain meadows, the diversity in vegetation represented by each ecosystem is characteristic of this land. All rights reserved.