Growing above 11,500 feet, the small tundra plants face harsh winters of winds reaching speeds of more than 170 miles per hour, surviving long periods of sub-zero temperatures, blizzards, drought, rocky soil conditions and strong sunlight. Severe weather can occur at any time of the year at this altitude.

Tundra vegetation is composed of grasses, sedges, herbs, and a few dwarfed shrubs, and often has an abundance of showy flowers during its blooming season.

The summer blooming period is short for tundra, as it displays its colorful carpet of pink, red, yellow, blue, and white flowers, normally during the months of June through August. July seems to be the best month for viewing as sometimes its season may be only 6 weeks long.

Because of the brief growing period, the alpine tundra prepares itself for next years growth by maturing its buds during the late fall, winter and early spring seasons, under blankets of snow.

On the first sunny day of summer the plants burst into bloom. Time is limited and not to be wasted by the alpine tundra.

High above timberline tundra plants are often interspersed with lichens and moss, and are typically small and very slow growing... sometimes only measuring 1/4 inch in diameter after 5 years of growth. What you see today may have taken hundreds of years in the making.

There are over 330 species of alpine tundra in Colorado, of which 180 are found in Rocky Mountain National Park . Over one third of the park is above tree line and is home to these plants. The most accessible viewing of tundra in the Rockies is along Trail Ridge Road, as winds its way from Estes Park, over the Continental Divide to Grand Lake.

Tundra is a fragile plant, and if damaged can take hundreds of years to recover. With over 3 million visitors each year to Rocky Mountain National Park, the tundra must be protected from human feet destroying the small plants.

Enjoy it from the designated pathways and trails only! Fines may be levied for those who disregard the warnings.

Featured to the left are a few of the common alpine tundra plants found in the Rocky Mountains.

There are 5 growing zones for the many different kinds plants and trees in Colorado. Growth of most species may extend into other zones such as the Colorado Columbine which is common to the Montane Zone, can also be found in the Foothills and Subalpine regions.

Plains................4,000 to 6,000 ft.
Foothills............6,000 to 8,000 ft.
Montane............8,000 to 10,000 ft.
Subalpine........10,000 to 11,500 ft.
Alpine..............11,500 and up

Alpine Tundra grows only above the timberlines. The word tundra is derived from the Lappish language and means "land of no trees".

Help protect these tender plants that have struggled to survive hundreds of years in this incredibly hostile environment...so they may continue to delight us each summer with their splendorous colors.