How to Identify an Old Growth Forest

Enjoy a spiritual experience by walking in an old growth forest. A forest never abused by man contains a natural beauty rarely found elsewhere in the world. The acronym OWLS helps you identify an old growth forest.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. “O” stands for old. Count the growth rings of a saw-cut tree larger than 32 inches in diameter to estimate the age of the standing trees. Most experts agree that 200 to 250 year old trees qualify as old growth.
2. “W” stands for woody debris. Look for lots of fallen dead and decaying trees littering the forest floor.
3. “L” stands for layers. A scan of the forest should reveal a layer of seedlings, a layer of saplings and a layer of mature trees. A grown up clear-cut forest will have trees all the same size. An old growth forest has trees of all sizes.
4. “S” stands for snags. Snags are standing dead trees of varying heights. These snags provide homes for insects, birds and small mammals.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out the Olympic National Park, 95 percent of which is old growth forest ranging from sea level to the tree line in the Olympic Mountains.
• Don’t get lost in the forest. Always carry a map and compass.
• When hiking, always let someone know your destination and your estimated time of return.