Most often a disturbance species encountered as single trees or sometimes a few, Western White Pine is perhaps most easily recognized by its cones. But the bark of old trees is distinctive, too, as this large specimen shows. It is checkered and pale gray, somewhat thickened.

The long cones beside a trail often reveal the presence of a maturing tree nearby. They are the largest of any pine species at the Park. They are somewhat curved, lack prickles, and hang from the upper branches of the tree.

The needles are borne in bundles of five. They are flexible and colored blue-green from the stomatal lines. Western White Pine grows from the lowlands to 5,000 feet although it is most common in middle elevation forests.