The bark of mature Douglas-Fir is deeply grooved and reddish to gray. This old tree grows in a dense forest with few large associates, but the species is shade intolerant, and in young forest, behaves as a pioneer.

Superlatives best describe this abundant forest tree which, although most common in the lowlands, can be encountered at elevations as high as 6,000 feet. Here an old, tall specimen grows near the Cowlitz Divide trail.

Long-lived, thousand-year-old trees grow at the Park. These young trees are thriving in an open site alongside the Stevens Canyon highway. This is variety menziesii.