Colorado Life Zones Info

The Alpine life zone is the highest life zone in Colorado.  Its elevation is from 11,500 feet above sea level and higher.  Weather up here is really cold, wet, and windy.  The weather can change from sunny and calm to stormy really fast! Since most of the alpine life zone is above tree line (above where trees no longer grow) storms can be very dangerous.  First there are not many places to hide from the wind, snow, and rain.  Secondly the land is steep, rocky, and slick.  Most importantly, you have a lot higher chance of getting struck by lightning since you may be the tallest object and you are so close to the clouds. Also, the air is so thin that many people not used to the thin air will get elevation sickness from not breathing in enough oxygen.

Since most of the alpine is above tree line, only wild grasses and small plants grow up there in the very short summer (middle July to early September).

Animals that live there need to be able to move around quickly or hide in the steep, cold, wet, windy, and treeless mountain slopes. In order to survive the winter, the animals need to hibernate (marmot) or move to lower elevations (Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep).

Desert (Southwest CO)

Plains

Foothills Life Zone

Montane Life Zone

Subalpine Life Zone

Alpine Life Zone