The Natural Environment

A trip on the Ebbetts Pass Byway will reveal a rich diversity of the vegetative landscape as the traveler rises from the valley floor to the cooler elevations of the pine and fir tree forest. Each elevation range has its sequence of change in vegetative patterns. In the Sierra Nevada, the plants and animals are distributed in a series of "life zones", which are grouped in lengthwise (horizontal) belts. The premise is that different plants and animals need and thrive in different conditions such as amount of water available, optimum temperatures, plentiful food source, and shelter or hiding cover. These "life zones" most commonly relate to a range (or "belt") of elevation conditions. In lower elevations the vegetation is dryer, except for streams and adjacent riparian areas that host among other plants, ferns and Alder trees. Mountain meadows can be found in the higher elevations and also contain moisture-loving plants. The vegetation distribution of the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway route is split into five distinct belts:

• Yellow Pine Belt, or lower coniferous forest, stretching from Arnold to Dorrington at approximately 1200-6500 ft elevation;
  
  
• Lodgepole Pine - Red Fir Belt; from Dorrington to Bear Valley at 6500-8000 ft;
  
  
• Sub-Alpine Belt of whitebark pine and mountain hemlock, 7000-8000 ft; Bear Valley to the top of Ebbetts Pass;
  
  
• Alpine Belt the high peaks above the timberline of the 8000ft - 14,000 ft. Sagebrush Belt from the top of the pass over to the east side of the range to Markleeville is the scattering of pinion pine and Jeffery Pine and the high desert.
  
  

The boundaries on the edge of these "belts" are not definite as there is a transitional and gentle overlapping and interlacing of plant species within these belts.

At the beginning of the route in Arnold, the vegetation landscape consists of pine, fir, cedar, oak, maple, and dogwood trees. In the early summer, the favorite viewing spots for dogwood blossoms are along the highway between Arnold and Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where these trees line the wet riparian areas. Within the Park boundaries are the amazing groves of the giant sequoia, which are among the largest and oldest species known. These magnificent giants are part of only a few remaining remnant populations that are scattered within the state. Measuring 32 feet in circumference and 220 feet tall, the 3rd largest Sugar Pine in the world resides at a Girl Scout Camp in Dorrington. From Arnold to well above Dorrington, the Black Oaks and the Big Leaf Maple trees will announce the closing of summer with vibrant fall colors. Aspen, located in the higher elevations, are the next to display glorious colors in preparation for winter. By the 5500 to 7500 ft. elevation, Lodgepole Pine, Silver Pine, Jeffrey Pine, Red Fir, and Sierra Juniper dominate the landscape.

Ebbetts Pass is not only about trees. The Sierra Nevada puts on a colorful show in Spring and Summer with vast displays of wildflowers. With typically cooler summers at the higher elevations, the flora will bloom later in the season lupine pair up with the State flower, the California orange poppy and yellow wallflowers. High country meadows will exhibit more flowers including corn lilies and Penstemon.

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