Ecology

There are six different life zones found in the Sandia Mountains. The life zone found at Sandia Crest is Spruce-Fir, also known as the Hudsonian Zone. The elevations for this zone range from 9,800 ft. up to 11,500 ft. The high elevation causes a significant amount of moisture which can range from 30 to 40 inches of annual rainfall. In this zone summers are cool and winters are long and cold.
Dominant species found in this life zone include Engelmann Spruce, White Fir, Corkbark Fir, and Douglas-Fir. Limber Pine and Wolf Currant are also common.