To the east of this site, the bare peaks of Haystack Mountain and Manns Peak can be seen clearly.  This view provides a good illustration of how the increased precipitation at higher elevations affects which tree species are present.  In the foothills and valleys surrounding the mountains, particularly to the north, you can see the drought-hardy pinyon-juniper woodlands.  Oak woodlands start to occur at slightly higher elevations, including the elevation of this stop.  As you look beyond the broad mesa in front of Haystack Mountain (called Boren Mesa), wide bands of moisture-loving aspen can be seen, particularly in the fall when their bright colors contrast sharply with the surrounding vegetation.  At the highest elevations below timberline, pure forests of spruce and fir dominate.  These tree species need considerably more moisture than the trees found below. On the high peaks above timberline, even the conifers come to an end because the climate is too cold and windy and the growing season too short to support any trees. This area above the tree line is called the alpine tundra, and the La Sal mountains are one of only three areas on the Colorado Plateau where this type of ecosystem exists.

The view to the north of this stop across the Mill Creek drainage is dominated by the pinyon pine and Utah juniper woodlands described at Stop 1.  Pinyon-juniper woodlands are estimated to compose 49% of the total forest land in Utah.  In recent years, scientists and managers have been growing concerned about the encroachment of these woodlands into areas that used to be dominated by grasses and shrubs.  It is estimated that before Europeans settled the area, pinyon and juniper trees were present on only one third of the land that they occupy today.  Pinyon-juniper woodlands are also much more dense than they were prior to European settlement.  Scientists believe that many factors have contributed to the expansion of these pinyon-juniper woodlands, including overgrazing, fire suppression, and perhaps climate change.  Pinyon-juniper encroachment is problematic for many reasons.  By taking over areas that were once dominated by grasses, pinyon-juniper woodlands decrease the amount of forage available for wildlife and livestock.  Also, the increased density of these woodlands makes individual trees more susceptible to insect attacks, since they are stressed by competition for limited light and moisture.  Dense pinyon-juniper woodlands are also at increased risk for intense “crown” fires that burn through the tops of trees if the wind is strong enough.  These fires are much more destructive than the small surface fires that burned in the more open grass and woodland ecosystems of previous centuries.