Colorado Life Zones Info

The foothills life zone's elevation is from 6,000 to 7,999 ft above sea level.  Some common landforms found there are hills, ravines, valleys, and steep canyons. The foothills life zone is the first major step leading up in to Colorado's high mountains. The foothills get little to average precipitation during the year.  In the higer parts of the foothills, up to 1 to 2 feet of snow may build up over the winter. The lower part of the foothills there may just be a couple of inches of snow in winter.

Some plants you would find there are grasses, juniper trees or pinyon trees (same thing), oakbrush, and small areas  of pine trees and aspen trees.  The plants need to adapt to a large range of temperatures and precipitation.

The seasons start becoming an important factor in deciding which animals live there during the year.  Many animals like mule deer migrate down to the foothills in the winter and go higher in the summer.  The lower parts of the foothill may be quite hot and dry in the summer.

Desert (Southwest CO)

Plains

Foothills Life Zone

Montane Life Zone

Subalpine Life Zone

Alpine Life Zone

Cottontail

Rabbit