Last updated: July 27, 2022
Place
Sunrise Nature Trail Stop 9
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
Sunrise Nature Trail begins just to the east of the bathrooms at Sunrise.
Amenities
1 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
You have just walked through a subalpine meadow on a gentle south-facing slope. Now look at the steep north-facing slope ahead. It was formed as a glacier funneled lava flows along its ridge, building up higher over time. Snow on south-facing slopes tends to melt as temperatures are warmer and they are in more direct sunlight. This north-facing slope is cooler and has more moisture because it receives less direct sunlight. Even late into summer, large patches of snow may remain. Keep an eye out for animals that live on cool north-facing slopes, such as mountain goats, on the ridges and valleys to the north. Would you expect to find the same kinds of plants on both slopes? Why or why not?