Subalpine forest occurs from 9,000 to 11,000 feet. Soils are shallow and rocky, wet meadows and bogs are common. This region is cool in summer and cold in winter. Lodgepole pine and aspen are found as well as spruce and fir. Alpine tundra is found from 11,000 feet and up.
Soils are very shallow.
Strong winds, heavy snows, and a short growing season create a harsh environment. Plants found in the tundra often take a long time to become established or to recover from damage. Buttercups, sedges, cushion plants and grasses are found here. Those who take the Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway will observe the diverse habitats starting at the town of Grant at 8,500 feet - an upper montane forest region where lodgepole pine, Douglas fir and aspen are found. As the road continues towards the summit, the lodgepole pine give way to the spruce-fir subalpine forest.