Highest Colorado tree?

[GUTstring]

Last summer, I climbed 9,702' Aneroid Mountain https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guid ... ntain_Hike in the Wallowa range of Oregon. Most other higher mountains in Oregon are composed of loose piles of cinder thrown up by volcanism, stymieing tree growth. But a highlight of this hike was a small clump of whitebark pine a few feet below the summit. One of these little trees is the highest tree in the state of Oregon, despite being on only the 9th tallest peak in the state.

If I wanted to see the highest tree in CO, where would I have to hike?

[Dave B]

Hard to say for sure. There's a whole lot more land area at and above treeline in CO compared to OR, so I think finding the actual highest tree would require an unrealistic effort.

It would likely be a subalpine fir and probably in the southern ranges where temps are a bit warmer and treeline a bit higher. This also challenges the definition of what you mean by tree: do you mean and upright growth posture and heights > 10', or do you mean a tree species? Subalpine fir commonly grows well above treeline in stunted shrubby form (krumholz). I'd wager a guess it the highest patch of krumholz might be around 12,500'. or a bit higher Treeline itself is so fragmented and soil, site, and microclimate dependent, you might find a tree (as in a > 10') as high as 12,200 or so. These are just guesses based on personal experience.

[Ryan987]

Let's hope Chris Fisher chimes in - I recall him finding a tree above 13k ft somewhere in the Gore range that likely is the highest in CO

[Scott P]

I remember someone said that there was a tree in the San Juans over 13,000 feet.

The highest I recall seeing were a few near the summit of Red Mountain No.3 above 12,800 feet.

[9patrickmurphy]

I recall there being small trees right below the summit of Mount Garfield in the Weminuche (near Arrow and Vestal). That's definitely the highest I've seen.

[dwoodward13]

I recall seeing a very small (1-2') pine tree very near the summit of White Dome, 13,628'. I tried to look for a photo but must have not taken one. I remember us commenting on how high it was.

[Scott P]

I recall seeing a very small (1-2') pine tree very near the summit of White Dome, 13,628'. I tried to look for a photo but must have not taken one. I remember us commenting on how high it was.

Possibly 13,400-13,500 if these are trees.

white dome.JPG (142.06 KiB) Viewed 473 times

[GUTstring]

This also challenges the definition of what you mean by tree

l would call the trees atop Aneroid krumholz, so let's say that counts.

[HikerGuy]

I've seen a couple at about the 13,000 foot mark.

[seano]

Chiming in with others, I’ve seen trees well above 13,000’ in the Grenadiers, e.g. along the Trinity traverse. Hard to get much higher than that north of Mexico.

[myfeetrock]

I've saw this in a thread here a few years ago. Someone here mentioned treeline in South America being over 14k feet.

[randalmartin]

I've saw this in a thread here a few years ago. Someone here mentioned treeline in South America being over 14k feet.

That's because in South America, at least in Ecuador/Colombia/Venezuela/Brazil you are near the equator. The highest elevation something grows at is a function of the average temperature at that elevation at that latitude which is why in Colorado treeline is a bit higher in the San Juans than northern Colorado.