Ecosystems · North America

Pacific Northwest Temperate Rainforest

Giant conifers, moss and salmon streams on the wet Pacific coast.

Along the Pacific coast from northern California to southern Alaska, heavy rain and mild temperatures grow some of the largest conifers on Earth. This is a temperate rainforest, wet and green all year.

The forest and the ocean are closely linked, with salmon carrying marine nutrients far inland.

The Landscape

Western redcedar, Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir and western hemlock tower over a floor of ferns, mosses and fallen logs. Rain falls mostly in autumn and winter, and fog in summer supplies extra moisture.

Who Lives Here

Banana Slugs and salamanders thrive in the damp, Roosevelt Elk graze river valleys, and Black Bears fish for salmon in autumn. Marbled Murrelets nest high in old trees, and Northern Spotted Owls depend on old forest.

Through The Year

Autumn is salmon season, when bears, eagles and gulls gather at streams. Winter is wet and mossy, spring brings new growth and bird song, and summer is the driest, best time for hiking.

Pressures And Care

Logging of old growth, wildfire made more likely by drought, warming rivers and declining salmon runs all affect the forest. Protecting remaining old growth and restoring streams helps.

Visiting Well

Wear waterproofs, stay on trails to protect roots and moss, and give bears and elk space. Never feed wildlife.

Look for

Western Redcedar
Roosevelt Elk
Banana Slug
Marbled Murrelet
Pacific Salmon

Often a good time to visit: May, September, October. Conditions vary from year to year and place to place.

Related habitats

Woodland · Freshwater

More in North America

Great Plains And Prairies · Eastern Deciduous Forest And Appalachians · Sonoran And Mojave Deserts · Everglades And Gulf Coast Wetlands