Round Top Mountain Research Natural Area Colville National Forest , USFS Canadian Rockies Ecoregion Cell(s): Green fescue grassland Subalpine fir/beargrass community Subalpine fir/Cascades azalea community

Access by road and trail

The Round Top RNA encircles Round Top Mountain in the Selkirk Mountain Range, and is located in Pend Oreille County, WA, about 5 miles west of the Washington - Idaho state line. Elevations in the 84 ha natural area range from 1740 to 1940 m. Three plant communities dominate the area: green fescue (Festuca viridula) community, the subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)/ beargrass (Nolina) community, and the Subalpine fir/Cascades azalea (Rhododendron albiflorum) community. The open parklands on the slopes of Round Top Mountain are dominated by green fescue, although bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), Columbia brome (Bromus vulgaris), and spike trisetum (Trisetum spicatum) are also present. A belt of bittercherry (Prunus emarginata) borders the lower edge of the parkland. In addition, scattered whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) occurs on the summit of the mountain and along the southwest ridge. Along the east and north margins, meadows grade into subalpine fir forests, with Rhododendron, fool's huckleberry (Menziesia ferruginea), beargrass, and woodrush. Snowmelt provides the moisture needed to support the subalpine fir, as well as Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), and snowmelt patterns create a mosaic of tree "islands". Round Top RNA provides habitat for the rare dryland sedge (Carex xerantica) and California sedge (Carex californica), which occur in the Green fescue - Subalpine fir communities. The natural area is part of the late winter, spring and summer range for the endangered woodland caribou.