DISTRIBUTION

Geographic Distribution

High elevation white pines are scattered throughout the western United States and Southwestern Canada. Limber pine has a broad distribution occupying a variety of geographic locations throughout the west from the grassland treeline to the alpine treeline. Whitebark pine is primarily found at high elevation and timberline zones in the northern mountains of North America. Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine, Great Basin bristlecone pine and foxtail pine have narrower geographic and elevational distributions.

Click on name for distribution maps:

Distribution by Species

Species	Locations
Rocky Mountain Bristlecone	Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona
Great Basin Bristlecone	California, Utah, Nevada
Foxtail Pine	Endemic to California
Limber Pine	California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Alberta, British Colombia, and isolated populations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska
Whitebark Pine	California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta, and British Colombia

There is no overlap in distribution between the ranges of Great Basin bristlecone, Rocky Mountain bristlecone, and foxtail pines.

• 300 miles (480 km) between northern and southern foxtail.
• 20 miles (32 km) between southern foxtail and Great Basin bristlecone.
• 160 miles (260 km) between Rocky Mountain bristlecone and Great Basin bristlecone.

Referred Literature: 84, 5, 2, 3, 4, 102,103

Elevational Distribution

High elevation is a relative concept. In southern Colorado high elevation may start around 10,000 ft (3,000 m) above sea level whereas in coastal British Colombia 3,000 ft (1,000 m) would be considered high elevation. Treelines around the world vary in elevation but are all characterized by having a similar mean July temperature of about 13 deg C (55.4 o F).

Treelines mark the limits of where trees can grow; they are the transition from forest to alpine habitats. As the elevation increases the sites become increasingly harsh. For example, temperatures and growing season length decrease, while precipitation, snow depth, and solar radiation increase. The high elevation pines are one of a handful of trees that commonly form treelines in western North America.

Find the elevational distribution of high elevation white pines near you.

ARIZONA	NEW MEXICO
CALIFORNIA	OREGON
COLORADO	UTAH
IDAHO	WASHINGTON
MONTANA	WYOMING
NEVADA	CANADA

Arizona	Elevational Distribution
	Tree Elevation Range Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine 9,500 - 12,000 ft 2,900 - 3,700 m Limber pine

Referred Literature: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 23, 125

California	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Great Basin bristlecone pine 7,200 - 12,000 ft 2,200 - 3,700 m Northern foxtail pine 6,500 - 8,200 ft 2,100 - 2,500 m Southern foxtail pine 8,900 - 12,000 ft 2,700 - 3,700 m Limber pine 7,500 - 11,000 ft 2,290 - 3,350 m Whitebark pine 7,000 - 12,100 ft 2,100 - 3,700 m
Colorado	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine 7,000 - 13,000 ft 2,100 - 4,000 m Limber pine 5,000 - 12,500 ft 1,500 - 3,800 m
Idaho	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Whitebark pine 7,300 - 10,500 ft 2,225 - 3,200 m Limber pine
Montana	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Limber pine 4,000 - 6,000 ft 1,200 - 1,800 m Whitebark pine 5,900 - 9,300 ft 1,800 - 2,830 m
Nevada	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Great Basin bristlecone pine 6,760 - 11,600 ft 2060 - 3535 m Limber pine 6,000 - 11,500 ft 1830 - 3505 m Whitebark pine 6,800 - 10,750 ft 2070 - 3275 m
New Mexico	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine 10,000 - 12,000 ft 3,000 - 3,700 m Limber pine
Oregon	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Whitebark pine 3,600 - 9,500 ft 1,100 - 2,900 m Limber pine 5,000 - 7,000 ft 1,500 - 2,100 m
Utah	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Great Basin bristlecone pine 7,200 - 10,700 ft 2,195 - 3,265 m Limber pine 6,000 - 11,600 ft 1,830 - 3,540 m
Washington	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Whitebark pine 5,700 - 8,500 ft 1,700 - 2,600 m
Wyoming	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Whitebark pine 7,300 - 10,500 ft 2,225 - 3,200 m Limber pine
Canada	Elevational Distribution
	Species Elevation Range Whitebark pine   Limber pine

Places To See High Elevation White Pines

High elevation white pines enhance the natural beauty of many national parks, forests and natural areas. There are many places to see them. Here is list:

Arizona

• Wildernet Guide to Arizona high country
• San Francisco Peaks

California

• The ten national forests of the Sierra Nevada mountain range
• Sequoia - Kings Canyon National Park
• Mono and Inyo Counties
• White Mountains in Inyo National Forest

Colorado

• Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Windy Ridge Natural Area
• Mt. Goliath Research Natural Area (Mt Evans)
• Daves Draw Research Natural Area
• Pikes Peak

Idaho

• Caribou - Targhee national forest

Montana

• Glacier National Park

Nevada

• Great Basin National Park
• Humboldt - Toiyabe National Forest

New Mexico

• Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Oregon

• Crater Lake National Park

Utah

• Manti - La Sal National Forest
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Cedar Breaks National Monument

Washington

• North Cascades National Park

Wyoming

• Yellowstone National Park
• Teton National Park
• All the National Forests

Canada

• Waterton Lakes National Park