How many Douglas Fir in Yellowstone?

Determining the exact number of Douglas fir trees in Yellowstone National Park is nearly impossible, but scientists estimate that they make up only a small portion of the park’s total forest cover, especially when compared to the overwhelmingly dominant lodgepole pine. While forests cover roughly 80 percent of Yellowstone’s landscape, lodgepole pine accounts for nearly all of that canopy, meaning that Douglas fir represents less than five percent of the park’s trees. Instead of forming widespread forests, Douglas fir primarily exists in scattered pockets and specific ecological niches, most commonly in lower-elevation regions and warmer, drier slopes where other conifers struggle to survive. These preferred locations often include areas such as the northern range near Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs, and in the Lamar Valley and Blacktail Plateau, where open grasslands meet wooded hillsides.

The limited distribution of Douglas fir in Yellowstone is the result of ecological factors rather than rarity on a broader scale. While the species is common throughout the Rocky Mountains and western North America, its success depends heavily on conditions such as temperature, moisture levels, soil type, and fire behavior. Yellowstone’s volcanic landscape creates nutrient-poor soils over much of the park, conditions in which lodgepole pine thrives but Douglas fir struggles to compete. As a result, Douglas fir flourishes only where deeper, richer soils exist, typically outside the caldera boundary or in valley regions shaped by sediment deposits and glacial retreat. These more fertile patches allow the species to grow larger and older than many other conifers in the region, producing some of the most impressive trees found in the park.

Douglas fir also holds a distinctive role in Yellowstone’s fire ecology. Unlike lodgepole pine, which has very thin bark and frequently depends on fire for regeneration, mature Douglas fir trees are known for their thick, corklike bark that helps them survive low- to moderate-intensity fires. This resilience allows them to persist through repeated burns and occasionally form isolated old-growth stands, some of which may be more than 500 years old. These isolated groves contain some of the largest trees in Yellowstone, towering above surrounding forest and providing essential habitat for wildlife such as owls, pine martens, black bears, and numerous bird species. Because of their fire-resistant characteristics, Douglas fir stands often act as natural fire refuges, preserving biodiversity in areas where fast-burning lodgepole stands are periodically reset.

Though Douglas fir trees are not plentiful across the park, their presence is ecologically significant. They contribute structural diversity to forest landscapes that might otherwise be dominated by lodgepole pine, and they support wildlife that depends on older, thicker-barked trees for shelter and nesting. Their deep roots also help stabilize hillsides, reduce erosion, and retain moisture in the soil, particularly in dry lower-elevation environments where grasslands and forests merge. Visitors often spot these trees along scenic drives and popular hiking routes, such as the trail system north of Mammoth or along the outer edges of the Lamar Valley, where they stand out for their dark green needles and distinctive, deeply furrowed bark.

While the total number of Douglas fir trees in Yellowstone cannot be quantified with precision, understanding their limited distribution and unique ecological role helps reveal why they are so important. They stand as reminders of the park’s geological and biological diversity, thriving in places where conditions allow and persisting through centuries of environmental change. In a landscape shaped by fire, volcanic activity, and climate extremes, the Douglas fir remains a resilient survivor and a vital contributor to the complexity of Yellowstone’s forests.