Most common tree in the Pacific Northwest (Douglas fir) found all the way down in Big Sur!

So, Douglas Fir is the most common tree in the Pacific Northwest. They grow all over and are super lush looking; If you have ever been anywhere in western Oregon or Washington, you have definitely seen a lot of them. They are mostly found in areas with plenty of rainfall and frequent cloud cover through the year. Douglas Firs once grew taller than redwoods before they were all chopped down, and they grow way further north than redwoods all the way up in Canada! That’s why I was surprised to find out that they grow all the way down in Big Sur! as you go south (generally), the sunnier and drier it gets (on the west coast at least), so even in the Sierra Nevadas, Douglas Firs aren‘t found as far south as Big Sur. So yes, in Big Sur, there is a forest of the same type of trees that grow hundreds of miles north in Canada. All because of Douglas fir’s extreme adaptability to climates and the special micro climates in Big Sur that somehow replicate the Pacific Northwest’s climate enough to support Douglas Firs. The funny thing is that most people don’t even notice them on this popular hike. That’s what I call underrated!